06/26/2011

 

 

Sunday, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker fulfilled one of his major campaign promises by settling the debt crisis while not raising taxes. However, in doing so he may have single-handily put the future of Wisconsin’s youth at risk. The budget cuts $800 million to public schools and includes a change that limits the amount of money public schools can collect from property taxes. This change functions as another $800 million in cuts to the public school system. Walker stated, “We can take the easy road and… pass the buck to future generations, or we can step up to the plate and make the tough decisions today.” The budget also calls for increased tax breaks for manufacturers, multistate corporations, and investors. The new fiscal budget that will go into effect July 1^st also calls for a $500 million cut to Medicaid programs.

Gov. Walker also utilized the veto 50 times on Sunday, which is over half as many times as former Governor Jim Doyle used from 2009-2011. The passage of the budget marks a huge achievement for the Republican-controlled House and Senate, which are rushing to pass as much legislation as possible as fear mounts that the Democrats will gain control of the Senate during recall elections in August, allowing them the ability to block the agenda set forth by Gov. Walker and the Republican Party.