The state budget deficit and bipartisan politics are on the forefront of the minds of Wisconsin representatives as the state legislature reaches the end of this year's session.
Republicans and Democrats alike are frustrated with what little legislation was passed over the course of the year.
\Not a lot has happened in the Assembly,"" said Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison. ""They only allow Republican bills, there's not a whole lot I'm optimistic about.""
Rep. Jeff Stone, R-Greenfield, said the legislature was rather lackluster this session.
""There are relatively few bills that have made it through the legislation process,"" he said.
One thing Pocan said he wished the legislature had passed this session was some version of the conflicting campaign finance reform bills passed by the Senate and the Assembly. The Assembly refused to iron out the differences between the two bills in a conference committee before both houses ended discussion on normal business last week.
""Nothing happened in regard to campaign finance reform at all this session. That is probably one of the biggest disappointments,"" Pocan said.
Assembly Minority Leader Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, said the current budget deficit and the legislative action of Gov. Scott McCallum dominated this year's session. He listed decreased support for the University of Wisconsin and halved environmental protection funds as some of the budget proposal's most troubling components. However, Black said he was pleased that the state was able to pass a comprehensive wetland protection bill into law.
""When a federal court decision essentially limited wetlands protection, Wisconsin was the first state of the nation to pass a strong bill to protect our wetlands,"" he said.
Stone attributed the state's current budget crisis to a general trend of economic recession and he said he is hopeful that revenues will increase, so that next year's budget, and therefore the legislature's ability to pass legislation, will not be so limited.
""As a state we have to prioritize"" Stone said, adding that he was gratified by the fact that under the current budget proposal shared revenue was restored to local governments for the rest of this year, allowing municipalities extra time to prepare for future budget cuts. Shared revenue is the money the state doles out to local governments to provide taxpayers with basic municipal services like snowplowing. These monies were originally slashed under McCallum's original budget reform plan.
State Democrats said they are looking forward to the upcoming elections in which they hope to win the gubernatorial election, and gain a majority in the Assembly.
""Right now, with a Republican governor and Assembly, it's difficult to advance progressive legislation. Most of our sights are set on the fall elections,"" Pocan said.
