Diamond Jim's Ramming It Through

From JSOnline.

Jimma wants to get this over with before more people catch on. With democrats in control, what's holding this back? People of Wisconsin who voted for the democrats and Jim Doyle, bend over and take everything they didn't promise you!

"Doyle calls special legislative session to deal with budget issue

By Steven Walters of the Journal Sentinel

Posted: Jun. 23, 2009 12:32 p.m.

Madison — Gov. Jim Doyle on Tuesday called the first of several potential special sessions of the Legislature, saying legislators must act quickly to extend the tax on hospitals passed earlier this year to generate $74 million in additional federal aid.

"My preference would be for the entire budget to be completed on time, but the Legislature is now facing critical financial deadlines and I'm calling on them to act," Doyle said in his statement calling the special session for 1 p.m. Wednesday.

Doyle and Democrats who control the Legislature have agreed to extend the tax on hospitals approved in February to surgical centers - a move the governor said would generate an additional $74 million in federal Medicaid reimbursement aid and free up $26.6 million in state funds to help cover a record deficit.

Federal rules require that the new assessment formula be in place within a week, which is why Doyle said he called the special session of the Legislature for Wednesday.

But legislative leaders have other differences on the 2009-'11 budget that have so far blocked action on it, threatening to push final action past July 1, which is the start of the next spending cycle. Legislative leaders and Doyle aides continued to meet privately Tuesday to try to resolve those differences.

Monday, Doyle said the Legislature may also have to act separately to meet the July 1 deadline to impose 6% across-the-board cuts in spending by state agencies. Also, state government would get an additional $15 million in federal aid if it has a law in place on July 1 letting law officers stop vehicles if they suspect its occupants are not wearing belts." Doyle calls special legislative session to deal with budget issue - JSOnline