Posted on 06/20/2013 4:52:00 PM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
Madison — The Senate plans to send Gov. Scott Walker a state budget Thursday that would cut income taxes by an average of $150, raise property taxes by $29 on the typical home, reject a key element of ObamaCare and allow voucher schools in all corners of Wisconsin.
The budget passed the Republican-controlled Assembly on Wednesday 55-42 and is likely to get through the Senate by just one vote. Sen. Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center) told his colleagues on the Senate floor that without major changes, he would vote against the budget because it is "too far removed from the interests of the common folks I represent."
Schultz joined with Democrats to try to remove all non-fiscal policy items from the budget, including allowing bail bondsmen to operate in the state and ending the ability of local governments to require their employees to live within their boundaries.
The other Republicans rejected that effort, allowing the measures to remain in the budget on a 17-16 vote. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) reminded the senators that both parties have a long history of inserting policy into the budget.
"The hypocrisy of this body is just sometimes overwhelming," Fitzgerald said.
Republicans control the Senate 18-15, meaning they can spare Schultz's vote but not another. If passed Thursday as expected, the budget would next go to the Republican governor, whose powerful veto pen can reshape it by striking out provisions and even individual words.
Three and a half hours into the debate, the Senate fell briefly into turmoil as protesters chanted, "Focus on jobs, not on vaginas" — a response to the Legislature's vote last week to require women seeking abortions to get ultrasounds.
(Excerpt) Read more at jsonline.com ...
WI Senate budget debate devolves into protest as Cap Police bar the doors.
FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.
Thanks Jean S.
www.wiseye.org
Watching the debates live right now.
So a budget that improves education and lowers taxes is “too far removed from the interests of the common folks I represent.”
That is an honest democrat
Dems are giving their same old song and dance about how Republicans want to take healthcare from children, blah, blah, blah.
They don’t get it. We are not accepting the $119M bribe from the feds to get us to sign up for Obamacare.
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