Amid speculation that Gov. Jim Doyle is backing down on education reform initiatives, a Republican lawmaker said he is ready to introduce a new K-12 education bill.
State Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, whose bill focuses on helping school boards balance their costs, said Democrats in the state Legislature are not particularly interested in education reform, making it difficult for Doyle to get his initiatives realized.
""I think it's got to be frustrating for the governor,"" Davis said. ""He's trying to get as many things done as he can, but he's got a Legislature that's not paying any attention to him.""
Davis said his proposal is ""more realistic about the school finance system"" because it does not call for an increase in property taxes.
Adam Collins, a spokesperson for Doyle, said education reform has received significant attention nationally and across Wisconsin in the past year.
""That's become a priority for states across the country, but also for Wisconsin, the Legislature and the governor,"" he said.
Collins told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Monday that the Legislature lacked interest in Doyle's proposal.
John Witte, UW-Madison professor of political science, said Doyle ""put a number of these proposals on the table, and they haven't gone very far, and that's a failing [on his part].""
Witte said Doyle's inability to garner enough support to pass a mayoral-takeover bill for Milwaukee Public Schools is an example of a failed proposal.
In November 2009, Doyle signed four bills that aimed to make Wisconsin more competitive for federal education funding. Last week, Wisconsin was declined funding from the first round of Race to the Top education dollars.
""The governor and the Legislature worked very hard and passed a number of very significant education reform initiatives ... to improve education here in Wisconsin and really kind of take those first steps on education reform,"" Collins said.
Witte said Wisconsin could receive federal money this summer from the second round of Race to the Top funds.
