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Democrats get all in a snit over the budget schedule

Posted by Kevin Fischer on April 12, 2011

Even though Democrats control absolutely nothing in state government, they should, in principle, be involved during the current state budget deliberations, offering suggestions about how to fix our budget crisis.

Granted, that would be tough for Democrats who are void of fresh ideas. Witness their policy playbook that predominantly features hiking the minimum wage.

During the Jim Doyle years, Democrats offered the following to balance the budget, ideas that have led us into the budget quagmire we struggle to get out of today:

1) Tax more

2) Spend more

3) Borrow more

4) Raid various funds

5) Use one-time money, like the stimulus.

Thank goodness those days are over.

Democrats still should, if nothing more than for their own personal pride, try to be responsible contributors to the process. Instead, they whine and moan and complain and play the race card over……the scheduling of budget public hearings.

When the Joint Finance Committee, controlled by Republicans, began its schedule of hearings around the state, certain Democrat legislators just couldn’t contain themselves and keep from looking foolish, especially when the tour headed to State Fair Park in West Allis, not exactly a White Folks Bay suburb.

Dan Bice of the Journal Sentinel reported the following prior to Monday’s hearing in, not Milwaukee, but West Allis,  referring to State Representative Tamara Grigsby (D-Milwaukee):

“The Milwaukee Democrat accused the leaders of the Joint Finance Committee of taking steps, in advance, to shut down debate early on the budget bill - and then claimed they are doing this because they don't want to be near Milwaukee too late.

‘They're scared to death of Milwaukee,’ Grigsby said. ‘They don't want to be here after dark.’

Without naming names, she said some of her fellow lawmakers share a ‘real fear about being in Milwaukee.’ Asked if she felt the committee leaders were acting on racist concerns, she said, ‘If it looks like a duck.’

Grigsby quickly added, ‘I didn't use those words,’ referring to the notions of race or racism.”

Bice also reported:

“Grigsby said she and fellow Milwaukee Democrat state Sen. Lena Taylor were upset that testimony will end shortly after most people get off work.”

The state Democrat Party of Wisconsin then said this in a press release:

“(Joint Finance Committee co-chair Alberta) Darling now admits she knowingly scheduled her hearings at times that exclude ordinary working Wisconsinites from showing up to testify, even after considering that as a factor:

[Darling] said many regular taxpayers could not come to Thursday’s hearings or three others scheduled in the days ahead because they are working. She said legislators discussed holding the hearings on weekends or after work hours but decided against the idea.”

So, nasty Republicans who scheduled a 10:00-6:00 public hearing at State Fair Park were being crucified for being racist and for conducting the hearing at a time when working people could not attend.

That’s odd.

When Democrats controlled everything in 2009 and scheduled Joint Finance Committee public hearings on the budget, one was held at State Fair Park in March 2009, from 10 am until ….4:30!

All the hearings were held from 10-4:30. The one Saturday hearing was held, not in Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha, Green Bay, Madison, or any other big city but in…Ashland.

Democrats, spare us the phony consternation and yet another play of the race card. Instead, come to the budget table with real ideas on how to move the state out of budget chaos and back to fiscal strength.

UPDATE: See what I mean.