Republican state lawmakers have spelled out a business-created plan to cut the pay for county supervisors in Milwaukee. But opposition to the idea is growing. News reports indicate that a group of wealthy business leaders known as the Greater Milwaukee Committee have pressured suburban Milwaukee legislators to launch a plan to make Milwaukee County supervisors part-time and cut the supervisors staff. The Republican state officials hope to fast-track a bill that would put a binding referendum on the April ballot in Milwaukee County, asking voters to approve the cuts, that the Republicans say would save taxpayer dollars. Milwaukee County Supervisor David Bowen says if okayed, the pay and staff reductions would make it harder to respond to constituent problems. Bowen also says he wonders how state lawmakers would feel about losing control. "The legislature would not like it if the federal government just came in and dictated one thing for the State of Wisconsin to do." A Wisconsin nurses union said today that the referendum plan is a threat to democracy and proper oversight of critical Milwaukee County services.
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