Legislative Leaders Continue Budget Talks

State Faces $527 Million Shortfall

POSTED: 1:47 pm CDT May 9, 2008

MADISON, Wis. -- Legislative leaders are still trying to find a solution to the state's $527 million budget shortfall.

Leaders met in person on Thursday with a representative from the governor's budget office but did not emerge with a deal. They were scheduled to continue talks by phone Friday, but Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch and Democratic Minority Leader Jim Kreuser were not planning on being in Madison.

Talks have taken on a greater urgency given that up to $260 million in bids for summer road projects are scheduled to be approved on Tuesday.

Doyle and lawmakers have differed on various parts of proposed deals floated to solve the problem in the past six weeks.

Previous Stories:

May 8, 2008: Reality Check: Which Groups Spent Most On Lobbyists?
May 7, 2008: State Democratic Leader Pushes For Budget Deal
May 2, 2008: Budget Deal Still Eludes Governor, Legislators
May 1, 2008: Doyle, Legislative Leaders To Meet Thursday
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 21, 2008: Senate Committee OKs Democrats' Budget Plan