Senator Joe Leibham’s Statement in Favor of the 2011-2013 State Budget Proposal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Senator Joe Leibham
(608) 266-2056 / (888) 295-8750
June 16, 2011

STATE CAPITOL… After over four months of public discussion and legislative debate the Wisconsin State Senate and Assembly have given final approval to a new two-year state budget. The biennial budget will run from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2013.

Following Thursday’s vote Senator Joe Leibham (R-Sheboygan) issued the following statement:

“This budget takes our state in a new, and I believe better direction. Like Wisconsin’s hard working families our government will live within its means. We will balance our budget by reforming our government and reducing spending.

“We will continue to fund quality and effective government programs at levels that are responsible and sustainable.

“Most importantly, we will continue our efforts to improve the climate in our state for the creation of private sector jobs so our citizens can be employed, earn good incomes, support their families, and be less reliant on taxpayer subsidized entitlements.”

Senator Leibham offered the following list of budget highlights:

• Eliminates projected $3.6 billion deficit and ends the biennium with our books balanced for the first time in almost 15 years
• Includes no tax or general fee increases – actually reduces taxes by $24 million
• Freezes property taxes for two years and permanently caps future increases
• Pays off bills left from past budget:
  • $235 million debt to the Patient Compensation Fund -PAID
  • $59 million debt for Wisconsin Minnesota Tax Reciprocity -PAID
  • Stabilizes transportation program by restoring funds raided in past budgets
• Reduces state bonding by nearly $2 billion
• Create a better “Jobs Climate” by encouraging investment, small business start ups and entrepreneurism
• Restructures the Department of Commerce to focus on job creation instead of business regulation
• Public education funding remains the top priority of state tax funds
• Provides $1.2 billion in state funds to fill hole left in Medical Assistance programs that were funded in last budget with one-time federal stimulus funds
• Maintains SeniorCare prescription drug program
• Requires participants of state government programs to be U.S. citizens
• Tightens eligibility for entitlement programs and focuses on eliminating fraud
• Funds military funeral honors program and invests in Veterans Trust Fund
• Ends state funding to organizations that promote and perform abortions while investing in women’s health and prenatal care.
• Brings government wages and benefits more in line with private sector
• Eliminates numerous state mandates on local units of government
• Maintains Recycling, Stewardship Program, and Water Quality Standards

For more specific information on the budget log on to:

http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lfb/LFBPublications_ButtonPages/2011-13_budget.htm

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