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Scuba

(53,475 posts)
Wed Oct 8, 2014, 09:15 AM Oct 2014

Wisconsin: Walker's $3 billion budget crisis worsens as Republicans abruptly cancel finance meeting

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LA CROSSE – As Wisconsin’s budget situation continues to deteriorate, legislators and state residents have struggled to get straight answers from Gov. Walker’s administration and Republican leaders. Public anxiety and suspicions regarding the state’s $3 billion budget deficit have intensified after the only scheduled meeting of the Joint Finance Committee was hastily cancelled late last week.

Democrats have asked Republican leaders to explain how the committee planned to move forward and address the immediate budget deficit crisis. Some Republican lawmakers have indicated a budget repair bill will be needed. Others have said they intend on making millions in unspecified cuts over the next several months. Others have said nothing at all. “With every day that goes by, our state’s budget situation worsens,” said Sen. Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse). “The confusion among legislative leaders and their unwillingness to have open and honest discussions about our state’s dire financial situation is troubling.”

The fact that Republicans continue to debate the staggering deficit numbers from the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau has only made the situation worse. By kicking the can down the road and failing to correct the massive budget shortfall, much deeper cuts may be needed in the future to balance the budget. Republican leaders have failed to say whether they will look to cut school funding again, ration health care services, delay transportation projects or scale back worker training programs.

"Democrats stand ready to resolve Wisconsin’s budget and economic crisis,” added Shilling. “We believe it’s time to provide relief to working families by addressing the student debt loan crisis, increasing the minimum wage to boost family incomes and strengthening Badger Care to save state taxpayer dollars. The public deserves straight answers and a clear vision for the future. Further delays will only compound our problems and result in deeper cuts down the road.”
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Thav

(946 posts)
4. The obvious answer!
Wed Oct 8, 2014, 11:00 AM
Oct 2014

Cut taxes more, and eliminate funding for social programs. That's the only way to fix the deficits.

rurallib

(62,346 posts)
7. the house of cards built on trickle down
Wed Oct 8, 2014, 11:08 AM
Oct 2014

is beginning to fall apart in America's "laboratories of democracy" AKA Kansas and Wisconsin.
Now the question is whether voters really care or will they vote for more magical answers?

louis-t

(23,199 posts)
9. As usual, repugs will leave a mess for the next Dem gov
Wed Oct 8, 2014, 11:18 AM
Oct 2014

then try to blame on him/her. Happened here in MI. $4 bil deficit to Granholm, she got it down to $1.5 bil, now repug Snyder has ads saying she left him with $1.5 bil deficit.

calimary

(80,699 posts)
10. Yep. Put the GOP in charge. And watch your money disappear.
Wed Oct 8, 2014, 11:46 AM
Oct 2014

Their "ideas" are demonstrably, manifestly, PROVABLY, for shit.

But they'll keep telling you it's all gonna be great and if you Just... Keep... On... Believing... (and voting republi-CON), then YOU TOO will be rich someday!!!!!

 

Scuba

(53,475 posts)
11. Hey, you'd already be rich but those Dim-o-craps give all your money to blah people.
Wed Oct 8, 2014, 11:50 AM
Oct 2014

Heard on Charlie Sykes and Mark Belling's shows many times.

aggiesal

(8,864 posts)
12. Here's a suggestion ...
Wed Oct 8, 2014, 12:15 PM
Oct 2014

do what we did here in California.

1st we elected a democratic filibuster proof majority in both the Assembly and the Senate, along
with a democratic governor.
Then proceeded to raise taxes on the 1%'s

Poof, deficit gone!

In fact, we're showing a surplus.

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