Doyle '07 vs. Doyle '03

Headline: Governor Doyle Attacks Assembly Budget.

My reaction: well, duh.

Here’s the headline we ought to be seeing: Governor Doyle Attacks Own Budget.

Now that’s news! And, yes, as a matter of fact, it’s true.

True, although maybe not quite a fact, in the “Jim Doyle was a fiscal conservative back in 2002” sort of sense. Not that straightforward. But still, fact-ish. And fun.

We need a little fun, I think. It’s been a long, serious week, and now it’s Friday. Time to lighten up. Time for some fun.

And, naturally, no sooner do we think of fun than we think of Governor Doyle, the Senate Democrats, and their versions of the 2007-09 state budget. Excellent examples of something Democrats, in general, seem willing and even eager to do.

To wit: ignore the past.

For example, then-Attorney General Doyle’s campaign promise to eliminate 10,000 state jobs over 8 years. Anybody seen that promise lately?

Then there’s this, from his 2003 Budget Address (emphasis added):

“This budget, like all, relies on some one-time revenue sources. Because one-time sources helped create the current mess, we used them sparingly. …We are using them as part of a long-term plan that results in long-term balance, not a one-time fix that just delays hard decisions. …by the end of this budget, we will have cut state spending enough that we won't have to rely on these revenues any more.”

I don’t remember, specifically, but I’ll bet a number of Democrats, including some currently serving in the Senate, applauded that line.

Other examples, from Governor Doyle’s 2003 State of the State

“The simple fact is this: We're spending too much -- and we have been for a long, long time.”

“Wisconsin is already one of the nation's most heavily taxed states. Adding to the burden would make it virtually impossible to attract new jobs...”

“By costing us jobs, raising taxes would trigger an economic spiral that would cost us revenue too. In the long run -- and perhaps in the short term too -- raising taxes will make the deficit worse, not better.”

And who can forget this classic:

“Going forward, my mind will be open to every solution -- except one. We should not -- we must not -- and I will not -- raise taxes.”

Yeah, I know: that was four years and two budgets ago. Things – mostly Democrat prospects – have changed. Governor Doyle is in his second term, firmly ensconced in the Governor’s office, and Democrats are ascendant in Wisconsin politics. That’s what’s changed, mostly, so no more of this stupid conservatism!

Feh. Can’t believe we actually had to say all that stuff to begin with. And with a straight face, even! Cut taxes? Smaller government? I feel all dirty now.

No problem. It’s all over. Democrats are back to acting like tax-and-spend Democrats, and are leaving Republicanism to Republicans. Consider:

Governor Doyle’s 07-09 budget increases spending by almost 9%. Senate Democrats increase spending by 23%. Assembly Republicans increase spending by five percent – right around the usual rate of inflation (for two years).

Governor Doyle increases tax and fee revenues by $1.75 billion, including new taxes on hospitals, and higher taxes on cigarettes, gas, and real estate transfers (i.e., buying a house!). Assembly Republicans eliminated each and every one of the Democrats’ tax increases, and passed several different tax cuts.

Because: “Wisconsin's problem is not that we tax too little. It is that we spend too much.”

Governor Doyle's budget borrows over $3 billion. The Assembly Republicans’ cuts that nearly in half.

Governor Doyle’s budget raids several different segregated funds – “one-time revenue sources” – to the tune of $411 million. The Assembly Republicans cut that back to $14 million.

And the Assembly budget spends more on K-12 education than the Governor’s budget does.

No tax increases: check. Spending within the taxpayer’s ability to pay: check. Eliminating one-time funding: check. Reducing the tax burden and Wisconsin’s tax-hell status: check. Reducing the size of government so the private sector can create more jobs: check.

So what’s the Governor mad about? Assembly Republicans have passed his budget!