WISCREPORT.COM (10/13/07) - As gridlock continues over passage of a state budget, State Senator Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) is proposing an overhaul of the Wisconsin's budgeting process designed to prevent future impasses.

Under Darling’s proposal, the Legislature would assign portions of the Governor’s proposal to a number of joint legislative committees able to amend the bill yet still required to adhere to a set appropriation level.

Under Darling’s proposal, the Governor and Legislature must first agree to a level of appropriations, considering future obligations and revenue estimates prepared as under current practice by the executive Department of Administration and the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau.

“At the heart of this current budget struggle is the disagreement over how much taxpayers can afford to pay,” said Darling.

“Let’s have the debate over how we prioritize the new money the state already receives on economic growth alone, not over how much more the government should extract from Wisconsin taxpayers. They’re at their limit,” Senator Darling says.

Under Darling’s proposal, the Legislature would assign portions of the Governor’s proposal to a number of joint legislative committees able to amend the bill yet still required to adhere to a set appropriation level.

Each appropriation bill would be passed separately by the Legislature.

Darling believes the idea of joint appropriations committees will increase cooperation and allow more legislators to participate in the process.

A joint committee consists of members from each house of the Legislature.

“I think it’s important that both houses continue to work together from Day One,” Darling said.

“There’s always going to be a healthy and vigorous debate on the issues, but I believe the massive differences that have characterized this current budget process won’t materialize if both houses are starting from the same page.”

Darling is developing a draft of her plan, and intends to submit a proposal in the weeks ahead.