One lawmaker says now is a good time for the governor to get serious about cutting the state workforce. "I think Governor Doyle did try to get rid of the huge increase in government that we had during governor Thompson's tenure," says state Senator Glenn Grothman. "And he's made some progress."
But not nearly as much as he promised. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports the state has cut just over 2700 jobs in eight years, although Doyle promised in 2002 to cut 10,000. Grothman, a West Bend Republican, says the next budget should present real opportunity. "Now is unquestionably the time for Governor Doyle to make good on his promise," says Grothman, who suggests that the UW System, and Corrections employees other than prison guards, represent the best places to cut.