Shutting Down Wisconsin Government

I see that Doyle is threatening to shut down various parts of Wisconsin government if there isn’t a new budget passed soon with his tax hikes. 

It’s getting late and I’m a bit budgeted out for the day, so I’ll make this quick.  The state of Wisconsin is currently operating under the previous budget.  Because of the natural increase in tax revenues from a growing economy, Wisconsin’s government will actually take in about a billion MORE dollars even without any tax increases.  Also, the budget included COL and other built in increases.  So if a budget is not passed, Wisconsin can and will spend more money than it did last year.

If Doyle chooses to shut down government services even though they are getting as much or more tax dollars than last year, then he can have at it.  It would show his utter weakness as an executive to manage the state.  A manager from Best Buy could keep the store open without a budget increase.  I would think that the governor could do at least that. 

1. Predictable, very predictable.  Unfortunately I believe it’s only a matter of time before some increase is agreed to.  There’s too many people sucking off of of the state (and I don’t mean emergency services) to keep from a tax increase.

   The largest employer in Wisconsin is government.  And under the current direction we’re headed it will probably become the only employer.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on October 17, 2007 at 2127 hrs




2. You’re forgetting the mantra here, and the legal requirement on state government, that in this situation it is to operate under last year’s budget.

   Not this year’s revenues.  Nope, last year’s budget—the one based one projections of revenues as calculated three years ago.  No matter that costs of heat, fuel, etc., have risen even since last year.

   Look at last year’s budget or any year’s state budget.  Look at the line items.  Do any of them allot “x percentage of revenue”?  No, each allots a dollar figure.  And last year’s dollar figure for each line item is this year’s dollar figure for each line item in this situation, no matter the changed circumstances since.

   Look at it this way:  At least, revenues are up under Doyle.  If revenues were down, then state government would be spending more than revenues would allow.  And there’d be a rally about that!

   In sum, you’re calling for a change in the law on how the state government is to operate without a new, current budget.  It may not be a bad idea to change the law in this situation to increase line items across the board based on increased revenue, but do you really want that?  Across the board? 

   And what you’re calling for is only an idea, not the law—the law that the government, and that includes the governor, have to follow in this situation.  As ever, if you want to change the law,  talk to your friends in the legislature—they’re the ones to do it.  Not the governor.  (And not you or me, much as we might wish. . . .)

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on October 17, 2007 at 2231 hrs




3. Hell yes shut it down!

   Then they can’t do any more damage.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on October 18, 2007 at 0645 hrs




4. Is Doyle taking suggestions??? Cuz I would like to furlough his driver and his pilot so he has to stay in Madison and work on a deal.
   Also, Rep. Nelson began his sit in a few minutes ago….begs the question…will he get a per diem for sitting in the chamber?  How long before we get a court order hooking up his feeding tube…or is it not that kind of protest.

   Dont worry we’ll get a budget. The Dems are more worried about the next election than the next budget. Once they feel they can capture some of our seats they will put on their capes, swoop in and make a nice pretty budget. WATCH!

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on October 18, 2007 at 0914 hrs




5. Say Wha, we’ve already spent $20 million in this fiscal year, a matter of months, for the legislature’s operating budget—including many thousands of dollars of per diems for the so-called negotiating committee to keep trekking back and forth to Madison.

   So at least someone is filling one of the empty seats, in the room with the heat bills being paid for nothing else to get done in the legislature.  It’s better political theater than we saw yesterday!

   But no, costs of capes were not put in last year’s budget, so they’re not in this year’s budget, which is last year’s budget—which was based on projections made years ago, when the need for superheroes in the legislature clearly was not foreseen.

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on October 18, 2007 at 1225 hrs




6. I was all in favor of the last time the federal government shut down… until I realized that once it started again everyone got all their back pay.  Basically a paid vacation.

   Doyle and his scare tactics…  I’m sure the sheep will just eat that shit up…

   Posted by (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on October 18, 2007 at 1229 hrs