Wisconsin Assembly Begins State Budget Session

The state Assembly has convened to take up the state budget and move the spending plan to Gov. Scott Walker.

Debate in the Republican-controlled chamber over the $73.3 billion plan is expected to last upward of 12 hours.

Assembly Democrats oppose many parts of the budget. They’re using terms like “cut and gut” or “slash and burn” and have said they plan to offer as many as 50 amendments.

Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca said increases in park fees, cuts to the University of Wisconsin System, and expansion of the school voucher program will impact a lot of residents and undercut Wisconsin’s heritage. “This budget sells out the citizens and people of this great state,” he said.

The Senate passed the budget just before midnight Tuesday after inserting provisions that would repeal the prevailing wage law for local government projects. The law requires the state and local governments to pay construction workers a minimum salary on public projects. The question of whether to insert a repeal held up budget negotiations for a month.

Assembly approval would send the budget to Walker, who can use his powerful veto pen to dramatically rewrite the document before signing it into law.

Once the Assembly is through with the budget, it’s expected to take up a 20-week abortion ban on Thursday. Stevens Point Democratic Rep. Katrina Shankland opposes the bill.

“We all know the war on women continues thanks to Republicans leading the way in Wisconsin,” Shankland said.

None of the state’s major medical groups support the 20-week ban.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include additional reporting from Shamane Mills.