Posted on 07/10/2015 3:04:53 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
Madison The state Assembly approved a budget late Wednesday, sending it to Gov. Scott Walker's desk for his vetoes and signature.
The Republican governor, who is preparing to launch his presidential bid on Monday, is expected to sign it within days.
The budget includes:
■ A $250 million cut to the University of Wisconsin System over two years, $50 million less than Walker had wanted to cut. Walker also wanted to spin the university off as a public authority that would be free of some state rules, but his fellow Republicans in the Legislature rejected that idea.
■ A prevailing wage compromise among Republicans after they could not agree on a full repeal of the law, which sets a minimum salary for construction employees when they build roads, schools and other publicly funded projects.
■Bonding of up to $850 million for the Department of Transportation, far below Walker's proposed $1.3 billion in borrowing for transportation.
■ Limits on information that can be released about UW System job finalists, but not other changes to the state's open records law. The Legislature's budget committee inserted provisions into the budget that Walker's office helped develop that would have allowed legislators, the administration and local governments the ability to withhold large groups of documents. They backed off the plan amid public outcry.
■ A voucher school expansion that could shift $600 million from public schools to religious schools and other private institutions that receive taxpayer funding, according to a nonpartisan analysis.
■ Combining long-term care with ordinary medical care as part of major changes to Family Care and IRIS, backing some but not all of Walker's proposal for the systems.
■Reductions in borrowing for the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program and a cut of 80 positions at the state Department of Natural Resources.
(Excerpt) Read more at jsonline.com ...
Gov. Scott Walker is expected to sign the 2015-17 budget within days of the Legislature sending it to him.
Go to the link to see the whole summary.
FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.
So, from the perspective of Wisconsin members of FR, what are your thoughts? Is this a good start?
A good continuation. Walker has been cutting spending for the last 6 years. Thcontinues his reforms, although he didn’t get everything he wanted.is budget just
“Is this a good start?”...........
Its a start. There still needs to be some greater consideration to the transportation funding. Our state roads a becoming a disaster.
state budget? Here it is (WI), DaveA37 wrote:
Is this a good start?...........Its a start. There still needs to be some greater consideration to the transportation funding. Our state roads a becoming a disaster.
Don’t forget the previous governor Doyle took the 3 billion transportation fund and used it to cover WEAC (teacher union) pensions
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