There doesn't seem to be any sense of urgency, now that an Assembly-Senate panel has been named to resolve differences in the state budget. At a Madison news conference last week, Governor Jim Doyle was urging quick action , by a conference committee of state legislators. "They simply are going to have to get it done in a timely way," said the Democratic governor. "Ideally we have it done by August 1st." Doyle's sense of urgency was seconded by Senate Majority Leader, Judy Robson . "We'll stay her as long as we need to," said the Beloit Democrat. "We'll pack our lunches, our brown bags, and we'll stay 'til we get the job done." But that was last week. Now that the committee members have all been named, the panel will get to work straight away, right? "No, we don't have it scheduled," Robson said Tuesday. "We probably won't do that 'til next week. Probably Tuesday." How about that August 1st date for a finished budget? Robson said she'd love to have it done by then: "we'll put our shoulders to the wheel, and forge ahead." Beginning next week.
