After 115 day impasse, Nelson & Hintz Push Comprehensive Budget Reform package

For Immediate Release: November 2, 2007
Contact:
Rep. Tom Nelson
(608) 266-2418 (office) (608) 266-2254 (o)
Rep. Gordon Hintz
(920) 475-6221 (cell) (920) 279-1870 (c)


Budget Impasse Highlights Need for Reform

After 115 day impasse, Nelson & Hintz Push Comprehensive Budget Reform Package


MADISON – One week after Governor Doyle signed the 2007-09 State Budget, Rep. Tom Nelson (D-Kaukauna) and Rep. Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) proposed a comprehensive budget reform package today (Nov.2) to address the broken budget-writing process.

Because of the impasse, 6,000 students did not receive financial aid, school districts and local government were unable to write budgets, 800 public employees were scheduled to be furloughed and critical road and bridge projects were delayed.

“It is important that we don’t wait until the next budget to reform what is wrong with our current budget process today. Now that we have a budget, it is time to fix the systematic flaws in our process and restore the public’s confidence in state government and their legislative leaders,” said Hintz.

“Instead of reforming the broken budget process, the Republican Assembly has scheduled votes on heated sidewalks and neighborhood electric vehicles,” Nelson said. “We should not delay reform like we delayed the budget. Budget reform must be a priority.”

Nelson and Hintz will propose a comprehensive reform package that achieves these objectives:

· Anyone seeking state office and has filed the appropriate papers with the Elections Board may not fundraise during the budget-writing process.


· Compel the attendance of budget conference committee members as outlined in AB551.


· Withhold legislator pay after August 1 if a budget has not passed.


“It’s important that budget reform measures encourage legislators to work and reach agreement, do not penalize citizens or state employees during an impasse, and restore the public’s trust in decision-making,” said Hintz.

“Comprehensive reform can only succeed if all three measures are adopted. Like a three-legged stool, if one leg is removed the stool cannot stand,” Nelson said. “Together, these three measures will force legislators to do their job and remove any incentive to delay passing a budget.”