Conservatively Speaking
State Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) represents parts of four counties: Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, and Walworth. Her Senate District 28 includes New Berlin, Franklin, Greendale, Hales Corners, Muskego, Waterford, Big Bend and parts of Greenfield, East Troy, and Mukwonago. Senator Lazich has been in the Legislature for more than a decade. She considers herself a tireless crusader for lower taxes, reduced spending and smaller government.
Governor Doyle announces budget repair bill vetoes
By Mary Lazich
Friday, May 16 2008, 11:38 AM
Governor Doyle this morning announced his vetoes of the budget repair bill approved by the Legislature that I voted against.
Doyle vetoed delaying school payments to the next biennium.
The governor ordered an additional $270 million in lapses from state agencies, including the Transportation Fund. This is a favorite tactic of the governor’s, and it comes at the worst possible time, when roads are in need of repair from the harsh winter, and when motorists expect one of the highest gas taxes in the nation to go the Transportation Fund to be used for road projects.
The governor also vetoed a transfer from the REAL ID fund.
He did veto the Property Tax Exemption on Low-Income Housing that I and other legislators requested.
Doyle did not veto a corporate tax increase.
The Wheeler Report lists the vetoes:
General School Aids Payment Delay. Vetoes delete delay of $125 million in school aids and mechanism to reverse the total $200 million delayed payment.
Tobacco Bond Refinancing. One veto addresses a cross reference relating to the definition of appropriation obligation. The DOA will also be authorized to refund the tobacco appropriation bonds in the future based on call provisions included in the bond structure. Second veto allows the transfer of money from the permanent endowment fund to the MA trust fund at any time during the 07-09 biennium. The DOA secretary is requested to structure the refinancing “in a way that is most cost-effective for the state, including a lower up-front payment.”
Lapses to the General Fund. One veto removes the $50 million restriction on the amount of funds that can be transferred from the DOT and the requirement the transfer must come from an appropriation for state highway rehabilitation. Partial veto increases the lapse and transfer amount to $270 million during the 07-09 biennium.
Real ID Implementation Funds. Veto restores Joint Finance Committee authority over Real ID implementation funds and transfers $2 million of the funds to the General Fund, leaving about $20 million for the committee to supplement DOT for the program.
Required General Fund Balance. Veto restores the $65 million statutory balance requirement (from $25 million in the bill).
Authorization for Child Care Payments. Veto leaves funding for child care payments, but removes methodology for reimbursing child care providers under the Wisconsin Shares child care subsidy program. DWD is directed to suspend the current attendance-based rule for the remainder of fiscal year 07-08.
Property Tax Exemption for Low-Income Housing. Veto removes entire provision “because they are major non-fiscal policy and should not be included in this bill.”
Payments to Related Entities – Australian Unit Trusts. Veto removes exemption from payment provisions for Australian unit trusts. Further, in regard to interest on intra-company loans where both entities of the company are subject to the Wisconsin income tax, DOR is requested to “ensure that companies are not, in effect, taxed twice due to this provision.”
Here is the governor’s veto message.
