The co-chairs of the Legislature’s finance committee want to know what kind of budget plan the Democratic nominee in the race for governor is offering.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett has been highly critical of the budget passed last year by Walker and Republican lawmakers, arguing it made deep cuts to education in order to pay for tax breaks for the wealthy. GOP state Representative Robin Vos (R-Rochester) is defending the plan, arguing they did what was needed to close a $3.6 billion budget hole.
Vos and fellow co-chair Alberta Darling sent a letter to Barrett Thursday asking Barrett to explain what he would have done differently. They want the mayor to explain if he would have raised taxes to fund education or if he plans to restore collective bargaining to state workers by cutting Medicaid.
Barrett campaign spokesman Phil Walzak says the mayor has been very clear on the issue and believes different choices, such as not giving $2.3 billion in tax benefits to the “super rich and corporations,” could have prevented cuts to education.
Walzak says the request is nothing more than a gimmick to divert attention from Walker’s failed record.
AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (1:02)