Doyle, Legislative Leaders To Meet Thursday

Parties Have Been Meeting For More Than A Month

UPDATED: 8:38 am CDT May 1, 2008

MADISON, Wis. -- Gov. Jim Doyle and leaders of the state Senate and Assembly plan to meet on Thursday to discuss the state's $527-million budget shortfall.

The meeting was confirmed by Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker's spokeswoman Carrie Lynch. Doyle and Decker, both Democrats, are set to be joined by Republican Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch.

Doyle's staff members and legislative leaders have been meeting in private for more than a month trying to find a deal to solve the budget shortfall.

Key elements include whether to delay a $125 million state aid to schools payment, whether to impose a new hospital tax and whether to raid money from the state's transportation fund.

Previous Stories:

April 28, 2008: Spokeswoman: State Lawmakers 'Pretty Close' On Budget Deal
April 7, 2008: Doyle, Lawmakers Express Optimism With Budget Talk Progress
March 28, 2008: Assembly Speaker Says He Expects Budget Resolution Within Days
March 27, 2008: Lawmakers Still Wrangle Over Budget Shortfall
March 26, 2008: State Senate Passes Its Budget Plan
March 24, 2008: Doyle: He's Not Drawing Any Lines In Sand Of Budget Debate
March 21, 2008: Senate Committee OKs Democrats' Budget Plan
March 20, 2008: Third Proposed Budget Solution Pending
March 19, 2008: Officials: Doyle's Budget Plan Could Cost $94M In Tobacco Payments
March 14, 2008: Doyle Blasts Assembly GOP Plan To Repair Budget
March 13, 2008: Wisconsin Legislature Leaving Number Of Issues Undone
March 13, 2008: Assembly Passes GOP Plan To Bridge Budget Gap
March 13, 2008: Lawmakers Work In Final Hours Of Legislative Session
March 13, 2008: Assembly Budget Plan Would Drain Reserves, Cut Money For Raises