There is much speculation about how legislative leaders in the majority party are going to manage the increasing public resistance to the state’s most anti-worker, anti-middle class budget proposal in state history. At last week’s Joint Finance Committee meeting, about two dozen protestors were removed from the room. Already this week several protestors were removed from the Capitol. And now, Walkerville is set up and running, with another week of protests to highlight the draconian cuts, corporate tax breaks and harm to working people and fundamental Wisconsin values.
GOP lawmakers are edgy and eager to have the budget finished so they can leave Madison to work on the campaigns. Some speculate that whatever changes to the budget the lawmakers believe are needed will be done behind closed doors, with no public input or input from minority Democrats. It is also widely understood among Capitol watchers that leadership will strictly enforce time limits on speakers during the legislative debate on the budget, which could spark protests from Democrats and observers. Expect an even greater police presence in the Capitol as the days unfold.
After the Assembly and Senate vote on the budget, it will be sent to the governor to be signed into law. The deadline for passing the budget is June 30. July 1, 2011 is the start of the 2011-2012 state fiscal year. The governor has until August to decide whether or not to veto parts of the budget, although few, if any, vetoes are expected.
Author: Susan McMurray, AFSCME Lobbyist
Authority: Marty Beil, Executive Director
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