Wisconsin 2015-17 Budget (PHOTO: Jackie Johnson)
A group of state Democrats will be holding a hearing on the proposed state budget Saturday in Wausau.
That session is being hosted by Assistant Assembly Democratic Leader Katrina Shankland (D-Stevens Point), Senator Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point), and Joint Finance Committee Member Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh).
State representative Katrina Shankland says Democrats were concerned there were only four official hearings and that none of them were in the middle of the state. “I was concerned that central Wisconsin didn’t really get a voice, so we wanted to make sure we had one Saturday in Wausau so that people in central Wisconsin felt that their voices were being heard as well.”
This hearing is one of nine that are being held over the next few weeks. Shankland says they’re making sure to hold the hearing at a time when more people will be off of work. “You’ll notice it’s a long hearing on a Saturday. We want to make sure as many people as possible can get to us to talk about the budget, and their concerns or whatever they think about the budget with us.”
The hearing is open to the public and Shankland says everyone is welcome to come and make their voice heard. “They can register for or against the budget as well as testify for or against the budget. And we will be taking that data and ensuring that people feel that their voices are being heard. If people are comfortable with me sharing their stories during the budget debates or on the floor, I will absolutely do that as well.”
That hearing runs from noon to 4pm at the Terrace Room at UW-Marathon County.
WSAU