WAOW - Newsline 9, Wausau News, Weather, SportsWis. legislative committee meets to discuss budget
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Associated Press - June 24, 2009 8:55 PM ET
MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Democrats refused to allow Republicans to propose any changes to the state budget during a the hastily called first meeting of a bipartisan committee created to work out a deal.
Republicans accused Democrats of negotiating the real deal on the $62 billion budget in secret and calling this evening's meeting just to make it appear debate was happening in public.
Republican Senate Minority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says every step in the budget process has been a charade done behind closed doors.
Democratic Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan says the meeting was designed to discuss 189 items in the budget that passed the Senate and Assembly in different forms.
Governor Jim Doyle is pushing the Legislature to pass a budget by July 1st to help address a $6.6 billion shortfall.
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