Dailytakes

As a conservative, I’m not happy with the Budget that passed last night in Madison.

Assembly Roll Call Senate Roll Call

I am glad my state representative voted no.

This was a bad budget deal that spends too much, has too much pork and sets the state up for costly and protracted legal disputes. These same legislators will be back within a few months to revisit our state’s finances. There will almost surely be a few trailers and most likely a budget repair bill to fill the hole that results from the patients’ compensation fund gimmick being found illegal.

I think a protracted stalemate, even with the resulting property tax spikes would have been a preferred route. Actually, strike that. The preferred outcome would have been a budget that spent less than five percent more than the previous one, didn’t include any fund raids, fee hikes or tax increases. But voters’ actions last November ensured that would not happen this year.

Elections matter.

Objectively, I’m impressed with the success Assembly Republicans had in thwarting the Democrats. Thanks to the tax cutting caucus that held true to their pledges, and a determined Speaker in Mike Huebsch, Republicans did score some impressive victories during the negotiations.

Consider:

The Healthy Wisconsin Sideshow was dealt a definitive death blow

The ill-conceived oil franchise fee (new gas tax) was eliminated

The bill spends $400 million less than what Governor Doyle originally proposed and $18 Billion (Yes, Senator Sullivan that’s a B) less than what the (then?) Robson-led State Senate wanted

Considering Huebsch had a small majority in the Assembly and was getting 99 percent of the heat for the budget delay from the mainstream media, these are no small feats.

Senate Democrats are in disarray, having been shut out of the final budget negotiations. Senator Decker, the defacto leader who helped secure their majority in last year’s elections, seems ready to end the charade and assume official leadership from Senator Robson. They held a 90 minute closed caucus after session and although no leadership change was announced, Decker seems to be angling for the change.

Take it from someone who’s been there. Leadership changes mid-session are tough on every legislator involved, no matter who wins. Some wounds take long to heal.

But back to the Budget.

Was this the best Wisconsin conservatives could have hoped for?

Not by a long shot.

Am I surprised we got as much as we did?

Absolutely.

Am I satisfied?

Hell, no.

Elections matter folks, and as long as the spending Democrat Party controls the Governor’s office and one house of the legislature, expect more spending. More taxes. More government.

Wisconsin voters may have not known they were voting for more taxes, more spending and more government last fall. But they should have.

Elections matter.

Where do we go from here? Well, it’s not that complicated. Conservatives who are frustrated that the Budget impasse didn’t end with more conservative outcomes must do more than complain. We should invest our time, talent and financial resources in conservative candidates for the legislature. Imagine, for a second, how this budget would have looked without a Republican Assembly majority? Think an all Democrat legislature would have trimmed Doyle’s budget at all?
Kudos to those, like Owen Robinson at the Boots and Sabers blog who held conservative pledge takers’ feet to the fire. We need more, not less, of that. Kudos to the real citizens from throughout Wisconsin who bussed into Madison for the taxpayer rally. We need more, not less, of that.

And kudos to those who voted no on the budget. We need more, not less, of them.

Elections matter.

Need further proof? Wait til we see Governor Doyle’s vetoes.