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Story originally printed in the Winona Daily News or online at www.winonadailynews.com

Published - Thursday, May 08, 2008

Wis. Democratic leader says to prepare for budget deal

By The Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. — Assembly Democrats should be ready to vote on a bill fixing the state’s $527 million budget shortfall next week, Minority Leader Rep. Jim Kreuser said in an e-mail sent to colleagues Wednesday.

While there’s been no “official word,” Kreuser said Democrats should be ready to vote Tuesday so $261 million in spring transportation contracts can go ahead without delay.

There were no signs that a deal had been reached.

Assembly Majority Leader Jeff Fitzgerald, R-Horicon, called Kreuser’s call for action “laughable.”

Kreuser sent the e-mail to Democratic lawmakers less than 24 hours after he held a news conference to blast the latest version of the deal being negotiated by Gov. Jim Doyle, Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker and Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch, R-West Salem.

One of the major disagreements has been over taking money out of the state’s transportation fund to help balance the budget. Huebsch and Decker have been opposed to such a move, while Doyle and Kreuser support it.

Despite the lack of a deal, Decker spokeswoman Carrie Lynch said she remains hopeful an agreement can be reached by Tuesday.

“We don’t want any transportation projects stalled or delayed,” Lynch said.

Doyle spokesman Lee Sensenbrenner said the governor was hopeful there was a breakthrough, but he didn’t know if there had been.

“The governor just wants something to reach his desk,” Sensenbrenner said.

If the Legislature doesn’t act Tuesday, it shows the Republican majority has no intention of solving the problem or addressing roads needs, Kreuser said in the e-mail.

Kreuser also said he hoped to pass a bill on Tuesday enacting a multistate compact designed to protect water in the Great Lakes.