WI budget items drawing heated debate

MADISON - Wisconsin legislators look to take up Governor Scott Walker's first two-year budget this week in Madison.

There will be several items likely to generate some heated debate when the state Assembly addresses the governor's budget on Tuesday.

First and foremost-- the controversial proposal limiting collective bargaining rights is expected to be added to the budget this week, if the state Supreme Court hasn't ruled in the case. That's the issue that prompted weeks of protest in and around the Capitol earlier this year.

Another key item--$800-million in cuts to education as part of the governor's plan to make up a $3-billion budget deficit.

The budget also includes the expansion of school vouchers for private and religious schools to include the Green Bay school district and the Racine area.

Governor Walker is looking to put caps on entitlement programs--including cutting tax credits for poor people and limiting enrollment in the Family Care program-- designed to keep the poor, elderly and those with disabilities living at home.

The Legislative Fiscal Bureau reports Walker's budget would freeze property taxes over next two years, taxes would go down and there would be a budget surplus of more than $300-million.