The Governor says he wants to avoid drawing "lines in the sand" over fixing the state's $527 million budget shortfall.
The state Senate will vote on their budget repair bill today, although the measure is expected to end up in a conference committee because of differences with the Assembly version of the bill. The Assembly passed their own budget repair measure before adjourning for the session earlier this month. Governor Jim Doyle says the two sides need to reconcile their differences quickly.
The Governor does disagree with two key proposals in the Assembly and Senate versions of the bill. The first is delaying a key $125 million aid payment to schools. The second would result in a raid on state reserves. The Governor also wants to keep a hospital tax in the budget repair bill. He says the measure will help the state access additional federal dollars. However, Republicans remain opposed to the proposal and say they will fight to keep it out.
The Governor says the state doesn't have to time to re-fight the same battles it did last fall, when the state budget was nearly four months late.
