Assembly Budget Plan Would Drain Reserves, Cut Money For Raises

MADISON, Wis. -- The Assembly Republican plan for solving the state's $525 million budget shortfall would tap nearly all of the state's reserves and cut money for state worker raises.

The plan also relies on an accounting gimmick related to school aid payments.

The Assembly is expected to debate the plan late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.

Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle offered a dramatically different proposal to address the shortfall. His plan primarily relies on a hospital tax that would be reimbursed with federal money and a transfer from the state's transportation fund.

Doyle unveiled his plan to deal with the budget shortfall on Monday. While he asked lawmakers to solve the problem quickly, it wasn't expected to be debated until a special session starts later.

Even if the Republican plan passes, it will be stalled in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker said the Senate won't debate it until after the bipartisan budget committee gets a chance to review it.