MADISON, Wis. (WSAU) — Governor Scott Walker put his signature on the new state budget Sunday afternoon.
The budget had few surprises. Walker knew his original proposal would go through some changes, but is pleased with the package. “We’ve got a budget that met my priorities. On day one, I said I wanted a budget that lowered property taxes for the fifth and sixth year in a row, that did not have a gas tax or vehicle registration fee increase, that continued to reform welfare.”
The budget includes 104 full or partial vetoes, which trimmed more dollars and altered some policy items. Some of the many vetoes include cutting additional cigarette manufacturers discounts, stopping the expansion of payday lender authority, and cutting a proposal that would have allowed crossing railroad tracks away from established crossings.
The budget was signed Sunday, 12 days into the new month and the new biennium. Some of the Governor’s critics say he’s been too busy campaigning for higher office and not working with the Legislature on the budget. Scott Walker disagrees. “Remember, there have been four budgets, including the one I just signed over the weekend, four budgets that had been signed into law before July 19th. Three of those four have been budgets I introduced.”
Walker says with modern technology, he’s been able to keep up with the documents and the debates throughout the process, and he has talked with key legislators almost daily as the budget was created.
Unlike the federal government, the State of Wisconsin doesn’t shut down when the budget expires. It just continues at previously approved funding levels.
Monday afternoon at 5:00 p.m., he will make his official announcement that he’s running for President.
Governor Walker will be a guest on the Jerry Bader Monday morning between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
(Governor Walker’s document detailing the budget vetoes and his reasons for vetoing items can be found at this link from the Department of Administration.)
