ASSEMBLY PASSES JFC BUDGET
Thursday, June 23rd, 2005 -- 8:07 AM
On a vote of 56-40, the state Assembly passed the $54-billion budget at 5 a.m. Wednesday morning.The list of sticking points between the Republican-controlled legislature and the Democratic Governor is long, for instance:
--The Legislature wants to increase state aid for public schools by $458 million over next two years, less than half of the $938 million increase recommended by Gov. Jim Doyle
--The Legislature wants to kill the governor?s proposal to raise ? from $55 to $65 ? the annual vehicle registration fee
-The Legislature wants to kill the governor?s call to repeal Qualified Economic Offer system of negotiating pay raises for teachers, which has limited pay raises since 1993
-The Legislature wants property taxes levied by local governments limited to new construction in those communities for the next three years, a tighter limit than Doyle recommended
-The Legislature wants to repeal a requirement that local governments adopt long-range Smart Growth plans by 2010 ? a requirement the governor supports. The senate will take up the budget next week.
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