That is a LIE, as this 19 November 2010 Milwaukee Journal article clearly shows:
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.”
http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/109275069.html
The Massive hole was HIDDEN by the Dems in an election year using budget trickery, like “Assuming” that Republicans would make undislosed cuts” (ie., THEY LIED...)
The “Surplus” is based on a Jan. 31 memo to legislators on the condition of the state’s budget, where the Fiscal Bureau determined that the state will end the year with a BALANCE of $121.4 million. Note, not a SUPLUS, but a BALANCE.......
Misdirection and lies by the Democrats. WHODATHUNKIT....
Thanks for posting that info.
There was a caller on Rush’s show and another on a local Austin talk show who were saying the current gov inherited a surplus. The SRM lies like a rug.