Progress on a state budget remains elusive. Assembly Speaker Leader Mike Huebsch opened Wednesday's negotiating session at the Capitol by "dispelling a rumor." Wisconsin, said Huebsch, has a budget. "We have the budget we had last time. You can spend this year what you spent last year. That is essentially the message to every government agency." There are, Huebsch said, specific areas which need to be resolved: K-through-12 education, and shared revenues to local governments. Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson and Assembly Minority Leader Jim Kreuser accused Huebsch and Assembly Republicans of not wanting to pass a new budget. Huebsch said that's not their intent, that he merely wanted to focus attention on the most urgent areas of the budget. The eight member conference committee adjourned after about two hours Wednesday, and is not scheduled to meet again until next week.
