Posted on 02/18/2011 12:03:06 PM PST by tcrlaf
Madison — Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle's administration on Friday told Republican Governor-elect Scott Walker that he would have to cope with a $2.2 billion deficit in the state's upcoming two-year budget, but this brighter-than-expected forecast contained more than $1 billion in hidden pain.
To arrive at the favorable estimate, the Doyle administration's estimate assumed that Walker and lawmakers would make spending cuts that have yet to actually happen - two more years of state employee furloughs, no pay raises, a virtual hiring freeze and belt tightening in state health programs. Without that $1.1 billion in savings, the state's projected shortfall rises to $3.3 billion - a significant increase over previous estimates that put the gap at between $2.7 billion and $3.1 billion.
The shortfall and the efforts to close it could affect everything from schools and health care to local governments and taxpayers.
The "revenue projections released Friday underscore what Governor-elect Walker has said for months - the state of Wisconsin is facing very serious budget challenges," Walker transition director John Hiller said in a statement. "Further, we believe that the true budget shortfall is much higher than indicated by the projections released today."
State Administration Secretary Dan Schooff defended the decision to use the rosier deficit figure by saying there was broad agreement on some future spending cuts such as not filling state positions - a position that Walker campaigned on.
"We don't see any scenario where you don't continue" those cuts, Schooff said. "I think the true number's $2.2 billion."
(Excerpt) Read more at jsonline.com ...
This is an OUTRIGHT LIE being pimped by the leftist media!!!!
thinking people now know that democrats lie about everything. They cheat on everything. So this is more of the same. The welfare weasels are the winners when democrats are elected...that’s how they get there.
“thinking people now know that democrats lie about everything”
“WE” know the Democrats lie and cheat on everything, the people do not. Hence the meme being pushed in the TPM article, and picked up by other’s, including a local television station, and reported as fact.
Everyone go there and express your opinon. The gene pool seems pretty shallow there and facts are hard to find, but needed.
Okay now it’s time to FREEP those jerks. I’m being censored as fast as I post. Time to overwhelm them with facts. Let’s do it! Or no? Come have fun.
Thanks. I’ve already had idiots on Facebook try the “there was no budget deficit before the Republican corporate giveaway” ridiculous meme.
We should give this thread as much publicity as possible.
Someone’s using this TPM article at a local news site in an attempt to counter my posts:
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/26930271/detail.html
Desperation.
BTTT
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