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.
A budget gamble
By Mary Lazich
Monday, Nov 19 2007, 09:52 AM
Here’s another reason I’m glad I voted against the state budget.
The budget was signed into law by Governor Doyle with the hope that the state will win a court battle against the Ho-Chunk Nation. A loss by the state in the court case creates a $72 million hole in the state budget.
Wisconsin is already reeling from the $892-million structural deficit that results from the new budget.
The La Crosse Tribune is reporting, “The budget assumes that a court will order the Ho-Chunk to make payments to the state that the tribe says it does not owe. The state Department of Administration estimates the tribe will owe about $72 million in fees under its gambling compact by June 30, 2009. But a lawsuit over the money is pending in federal court and there are no guarantees that the state will win.”
Read the entire article.
Balancing the state budget on a wish and a prayer is irresponsible. If this gamble doesn’t work, the taxpayers are on the hook for another $72-million. This type of budgeting is foolish and unacceptable.
