There seems to be no end to the state's budget deadlock. After putting an offer on the table last week, Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson is still waiting to hear back, from Assembly Republicans. "I am getting very discouraged, and beginning to believe that they do not want a budget," says Robson.
Democrats have dropped plans to adopt combined reporting on state business taxes, and have offered some 500 million dollars in cuts to their proposed spending. Senate Republican Glenn Grothman says they'll have to do better. "I don't believe we are close to a solution," says Grothman. "I believe a lot of Democrats are still holding out for massive tax increases and policy items that don't belong in the budget in the first place." Robson says Assembly Republicans led by Speaker Mike Huebsch are being just as intransigent. "They define taxes very broadly," she says, and that has "handcuffed" Huebsch and "hampered his ability to negotiate.
Robson has also suggested passing a separate transportation budget. Grothman says Senate Republicans still want to pass a separate K-12 budget this week. Governor Jim Doyle announced today (Tuesday) that he will call a special session of the Legislature on Monday to take up a compromise budget bill.