The Badger Herald and Daily Cardinal reported today that State Rep. Tom Nelson is camping out in his capitol office 24/7 until a state budget gets passed. I found this clever for a number of reasons. First, it puts pressure on other legislatures. Are they really putting their all into resolving the budget situation if they're not literally living at the capitol? Granted, Nelson is unmarried and doesn't have any kids so this is probably easier for him to do than many other legislators. Second, it draws attention to the fact that the budget stalemate is affecting real people. Rep. Nelson says he got the idea when he heard from a UW student who was not able to receive the financial aid promised to him. 6000 other students are in the same situation and people need to realize it's the Republicans' refusal to compromise that is the main culprit. Finally, it allows him to absolve himself of any blame for the situation and prevents him from having to face his angry constituents back home (Full disclosure: I'm one of them).
As everyone knows, WI is now the only state without a budget. We're quickly closing in on the record set for the longest period after the budget deadline passed without a budget. The Wisconsin Assembly is EXTREMELY polarized with only one Republican and two Democrats crossing party lines on the budget vote on Oct. 15. There is also very little impetus for resolving the budget stalemate because under Wisconsin law, if a new budget isn't passed, funding continues at the levels from the year before. But this is a de-facto across the board cut because it doesn't take into account inflation, cost-of-living, state revenues, etc. Every day the state goes without a new budget has real consequences and more state legislators need to follow Nelson's example and lock themselves in a room, putting all other business on hold, until it gets resolved. These Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel Editorials are probably good places to start.
As everyone knows, WI is now the only state without a budget. We're quickly closing in on the record set for the longest period after the budget deadline passed without a budget. The Wisconsin Assembly is EXTREMELY polarized with only one Republican and two Democrats crossing party lines on the budget vote on Oct. 15. There is also very little impetus for resolving the budget stalemate because under Wisconsin law, if a new budget isn't passed, funding continues at the levels from the year before. But this is a de-facto across the board cut because it doesn't take into account inflation, cost-of-living, state revenues, etc. Every day the state goes without a new budget has real consequences and more state legislators need to follow Nelson's example and lock themselves in a room, putting all other business on hold, until it gets resolved. These Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel Editorials are probably good places to start.
1 Comments:
He's not in his capitol office - he's in the Assembly Chamber.
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