Conservatively Speaking
State Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) represents parts of four counties: Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, and Walworth. Her Senate District 28 includes New Berlin, Franklin, Greendale, Hales Corners, Muskego, Waterford, Big Bend, the town of Vernon and parts of Greenfield, East Troy, and Mukwonago. Senator Lazich has been in the Legislature for more than a decade. She considers herself a tireless crusader for lower taxes, reduced spending and smaller government.
Senate Democrats costing schools millions of dollars
The Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) has issued a report comparing estimated school aid numbers under the Governor’s budget and current law.
The Republican-controlled Assembly approved Assembly Bill 506 (AB 506) to fund local school districts while state budget negotiations continue. AB 506 funds school districts at the same level as the Governor’s budget. The Democrat-controlled Senate refuses to schedule Senate floor action on AB 506 to appropriate state school aid.
State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster is using current law to prepare aid estimates for schools. The DOA’s report calculates the amount of aid that school districts may lose as a result of the Senate Democrats’ refusal to take action on AB 506.
The difference between the Governor’s budget and AB 506 funding of schools and current law is staggering:
Total statewide general aid under the Governor’s budget (AB 506 funding is identical) for 2007-08: $4, 713, 118, 878.
Total statewide 2007-08 general aid under current law, without an approved 2007-09 state budget: $4,626, 381,114.
There is a difference of $86, 737, 764 that school districts statewide will lose because Senate Democrats will not schedule a floor session to approve AB 506 to fund schools.
Remember this the next time Democrats claim Republicans do not care about public education.
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