Dems Closed Much Larger Budget Shortfall In Wisconsin Without Destroying Worker

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Dems Closed Much Larger Budget Shortfall In Wisconsin Without Destroying Worker Rights
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/dems-closed-much-larger-budget-shortfall-in-wisconsin-without-destroying-worker-rights.php

We know that Wisconsin's Republican Gov. Scott Walker is framing his bid to roll back public sector worker rights as a necessary measure of fiscal austerity. And we know that's basically bogus. But how bogus? And how accurate are the dire warnings of fiscal crisis? And how standard are the tools Walker's using to address it?

The answers in order: very, overblown, and unconventional.

"Unconventional or nuclear, depending on your point of view," said Pat Kreitlow, a former Democratic senator in Wisconsin, who helped pass the state's current budget.

(snip)
The previous governor, Democrat Jim Doyle, passed a budget that left the state poised for a surplus this year. When Walker took office in January he chipped away at that surplus with three conservative tax expenditure bills, but not severely enough to trigger a budget repair bill. The current, small shortfall was "manufactured by Governor Walker's own insistence on making the deficit worse with the bills he passed in January," Kreitlow said. But Walker cited that shortfall to introduce a "budget repair bill" anyhow -- a fully elective move that includes his plan to end collective bargaining rights for state employees.

[HereSince1628]

1. True but Doyle and the Dems weren't after making open range for Cowboy Capitalism

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2. Wisconsin: How we got here

From NBC's John Bailey
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/02/18/6081693-wisconsin-how-we-got-here

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s (R) Budget Repair Bill, and the ongoing fight over its provisions, was prompted by a large, looming state budget deficit. Wisconsin has an immediate budget shortfall of $137 million, projected to grow to $3.6 billion by mid-2013. The lion’s share of the blame for Wisconsin’s budget woes falls on the receding economy, but other factors such as tax cuts, rising health care costs, and expiring federal aid have contributed as well.

(snip)
What is the real budget gap?
-- Walker's Democratic predecessor, Jim Doyle, estimated that in June of 2011, Wisconsin would still have a $10 million surplus, but Walker has said the state is facing a $137 million deficit today. Why the discrepancy?

(snip)
-- Walker also pushed through three tax cut bills negatively impacting projected tax revenues by $117 million -- the tax cuts went toward health savings accounts, deductions for relocated businesses, and exclusions for hiring new employees.

(snip)
Wisconsin’s pensions
-- The pension system in Wisconsin is actually quite healthy. In fact, it was one of only four states (FL WA, and NY are the others) that entered 2008 fully funded.
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/02/18/6081693-wisconsin-how-we-got-here

[Dawson Leery]

3. +1

[Major Hogwash]

4. Walker has been in office for just 7 weeks and already he fucked his state up!!!

Tax cuts to 2 major corporations of $117 million.

The Million Dollar Giveaway to create the crisis!