In these poor economic times one lawmaker says elected officials should lead by example.
Considering the ever-expanding budget deficit, Republican Senator Rob Cowles of Green Bay says members of the state legislature should take the same furlough that is forced upon state workers.
“Senator Decker said that he would be participating in the furlough. That means giving back the equivalent of 16 days. That's great. All the senators should do that. Now the Assembly should decide what they're gonna do.”
Cowles says he's willing to return his pay equivalent to a 16-day furlough over the next two years. He says since Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker has already indicated that he'd do it, Democrats in Madison will likely follow their leader, and even though Cowles is on the other side of the aisle, he says it's the right thing to do.
“But I think since Senator Decker indicated he would do it I think it's a good idea that we all do it.”
Cowles says if state employees have no choice in the matter, he felt it was important that lawmakers make the same sacrifice. Cowles says it's a really difficult time right now and tough decisions need to be made. He's even willing to give the governor the benefit of the doubt.
“I actually thought some of his suggestions mentioned in the press conference were better than his original bill. And then I thought, you know, this is showing that this is darn serious.”