Rep. Hintz comments on Passage of State Budget

MADISON - Representative Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) issued the following statement following Tuesday night's passage of the 2007-2009 State Biennial Budget by the Wisconsin State Assembly:

"The Republican Leadership decided that the best way to compromise was to borrow, use one-time funding, and accounting gimmicks to fund ongoing programs. There are important programs in this budget that deserve state support, but these programs require reliable revenue sources."

"The current Legislature has dug a whole for the next budget by returning to Thompson-era style budgeting I campaigned against. It is no longer acceptable to vote for irresponsible budgets that fund expanding programs with one-time and potentially declining revenue."

"I worked hard to make sure this budget includes funding for the UW-System and the first phase of the Growth Agenda, a six-year plan that will be meaningless if we can't sustain our state's commitment in future budgets. Starting the next budget with an estimated $892 million structural deficit in an uncertain economy makes the challenge that much harder."

"I am hopeful state government can identify savings in this biennium that can be used to reduce our future debt."

The 2007-2009 budget includes a $25,000 aquatic invasive species grant to treat weeds in Miller's Bay as well as a $25,000 grant for neighborhood improvement, both which utilized existing state program funding.

"While the state continues to turn its back on cities like Oshkosh with no increase in shared revenue and unreasonable attacks on local control, I felt it was important to find other ways to secure funding for these important projects for Oshkosh."