(Published Thursday, October 18, 2007 11:41:59 AM CST)
A d v e r t i s e m e n t
The blame game reached new heights in the state Capitol after the Assembly rejected Gov. Jim Doyle's "compromise" budget Monday night.
Doyle says the state is losing federal money without a budget. He threatens to shut down nonessential services and even suggests the impasse risks the start of the UW System's second semester.
And Democrats call Republicans extreme.
Doyle's fellow Democrats suggest Republicans don't really want a budget.
We don't believe that.
Assembly Republicans renewed their call for considering separate plans to fund public education and local units of government. Doyle rejects that idea, saying he doesn't want a piecemeal budget. But his "compromise" removed transportation funding. Governor, what's the difference?
This debate is about ideological differences. Democrats want to raise taxes to new heights and swipe from supposedly segregated funds to add to their spending pot.
Instead of blaming Republicans, Doyle and Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson, D-Beloit, should look in the mirror. They should have known Republicans just won't accept another $1 billion in taxes.
Doyle has no one to blame but himself for calling an unprecedented special session, including most of his tax increases in his "compromise" and then sweetening the deal with regional favors-political pork-in a blatant attempt to bribe Republicans.
Included was a $4 million soybean crusher in Republican Brett Davis' district, a seat Democrats would love to claim. Davis was the lone Republican to vote for Doyle's plan.
We won't blame Davis for his vote, or his fellow Republicans for resisting Doyle's temptations.
Not when Doyle's compromise still included a raid on the Wisconsin's Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund. Furthermore, Republicans know Doyle's plan to tax Big Oil will return and haunt motorists like a Halloween goblin.
Wisconsin is already the eighth most-taxed state in the nation.
"Republicans have been consistent throughout the budget process saying that that rank is simply too high," Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch said. "But that message is being shouted down at every turn by those who think that our biggest problem is that Madison simply doesn't have enough of your money."
Republicans should accept the proposed boost in the cigarette tax, which would encourage more people to quit smoking or never start. They should also accept the hospital tax, which would capture more federal money, now that the proposal has changed so the Wisconsin Hospital Association no longer objects.
If Robson and Doyle want to lead, they should drop the oil tax and fund raid. In turn, Republicans would be wise to swallow the tobacco and hospital taxes.
Those would be meaningful compromises.
The failure to strike an acceptable deal is stressing county, municipal and school officials and services, as well as college students waiting to learn the levels of state aid. A budget now 109 days past due is a national embarrassment.
This failure to meet in the middle is a failure of leadership. Voters must remember it come election time.
