With both sides of the aisle accusing the other of not being willing to work together, the Assembly on Monday night rejected a budget package offered by the Governor on a 44-53 vote.
Minority Leader Jim Kreuser (D-Kenosha) said lawmakers should be ashamed that they can't work together to reach an agreement on the budget.
Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch (R-West Salem) said Republicans can't support the plan because of tax hikes, estimated at abut $1 billion more than what GOP leadership is asking for.
State Representative Dean Kaufert (R-Neenah) says Democrats and the Governor need to stop playing "political gotcha" with the state budget. The Neenah Republican says people across the state are beginning to turn on the entire legislature because of the constant delays.
Democrats argued that the Governor has shown he's willing to compromise on the budget after holding talks with leadership at the Executive Residence last month. But Assembly Majority Leader Jeff Fitzgerald (R-Horicon) accused Doyle of not taking budget talks at the mansion seriously. Fitzgerald says Doyle was there for about an hour on the first day, but wasn't present for the rest of the week while the talks continued.
The state budget is now 108 days overdue.
In a statement, Governor Doyle blamed "extreme elements of the Republican Assembly" for the failed vote.
AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (MP3 1:59)
