Governor Jim Doyle is reacting to the Republicans' latest version of the state budget.
The governor says he's prepared to veto it, unless some drastic changes are not made.
Doyle says the Republican proposal would cut Madison area schools over $10 million, the largest education cut in decades. He claims, in his version, he made more than $270 million worth of operating cuts in order to keep education the first priority.
"I'm going to take a very good look at it," says Governor Doyle. "And if I can do it through the use of my partial veto and protect education, protect property tax payers, I'll do it. But on the other hand, if I can't, I very well may have to veto the whole budget."
"We made school spending the largest increase in any program in our state budget," retorts Assembly speaker John Gard. "But at the same time did it with a real property tax freeze, a gas tax cut and a social security tax cut."
The Republican version has a $450 million increase in state funding for K–12 education. That's $200 million less than what Governor Doyle promised schools.
The full Legislature is expected to pass the Republican budget and have it on the Governor's desk by July 1.
