Cap Times: State budget veto high risk for Doyle

[sybylla]

http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/index.php?ntid=45001&ntpid=0
By David Callender
June 27, 2005

In what could be the most important decision of his term, Gov. Jim Doyle is threatening to veto the entire state budget passed by the Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee and Assembly.

The budget approved by those bodies, but still pending in the state Senate, contains a major reduction in state funding for public schools that Doyle claims would either trigger a massive property tax increase or result in deep cuts in school budgets across the state.

In an interview, Doyle acknowledged that he's taken the rare step of considering an across-the-board veto - instead of just using his pen to rewrite the most objectionable parts - because Republicans want to "get me in a box."

But, he said, "They haven't boxed me in because I can decide to veto the whole budget, and then we'll be back to where we started."

***SNIP***

Okay, budget watchers. What say you? Line item or rubber stamp veto?

I'm sure the pukes have made sure they crafted their changes and amendments to thwart the line item but Callender may be right; it could be a very big mistake. I'm not sure Doyle has the kind of popularity that would allow him to win what will turn into a seriously contentious battle with the nutcases across the aisle if he vetoes it in its entirety. The pukes will drag their feet until the governnment is shut down and blame it all on Doyle and his veto.


on edit: typo

[rodeodance]

1. he should veto the whole bill. as i think will give him more to negiotiat

with.

[ewagner]

2. Well, let's see....

If he vetos the whole thing the repubs can make it a game of "whack-a-molie" by passing the same crap over and over again and having him veto it over and over again and the Repubs would blame the stalemate on Doyle...couched of couse in terms of the Repub budget protecting taxpayers and Doyle wanting to tax "Granny out of her home".

If he does line item, he can force them to go over it line by line and pick his battles.....

Interested to hear other opinions.

[RevCheesehead]

3. Well, he could sign it...

and blame the Repukes for the fallout, but somehow I don't think that's going to work.

I'd prefer he veto it, with a strong message, like "when you send me a serious budget, then I'll sign it." It puts the responsibility squarely back on them, doesn't it?