Here & Now

Shilling: Dems Ready To “Hammer Out A Real Deal” On Budget

Frederica Freyberg:

With Republicans in control of both the Wisconsin Senate and Assembly, state Democrats are shut out on the sidelines as the Republicans try to find a path forward. One Democrat is calling the budget infighting by Republicans dysfunctional. At the same time Republicans are hoping Democrats will get on board with their plans to land Foxconn. This week Senate Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling joins us from La Crosse. Senator, thanks very much for doing so.

Jennifer Shilling:

Thank you.

Frederica Freyberg:

First as to this question whether Democrats would work with Republicans to fashion a major incentive package to land Foxconn, are you in?

Jennifer Shilling:

We have offered–first on the budget, we have offered to sit down with the Republican officials. We’ve sent a letter saying we’d like a real long-term sustainable fix. And we would sit down at the table if we had equal representation of Democrats and Republicans, Assembly and Senate members to hammer out a real deal. If they need our help, if they want our help, they can’t propose something without having us included. I think as we look back over previous legislative sessions, the Milwaukee Bucks arena is an example. We had a voice. We were able to get it done. And so we have been rebuffed. There’s not been an answer to our letter to legislative leaders and the governor saying, “If you want our help, we’re are ready. But you need to be willing to sit down and talk to us, include us in the negotiations.”

Frederica Freyberg:

Are you talking about your help in the budget or in any Foxconn incentive package or both?

Jennifer Shilling:

I think cooperation builds on cooperation. And as we have a budget that is now going on three weeks past its due date. And it is three weeks late. We’ve been willing to want to sit down and talk about some of these harder issues that have not been able to be resolved by a majority party who controls the governor’s office, the Assembly and the Senate. It’s not just transportation. It’s making our schools whole. It’s making sure that we have directed tax breaks for middle class families, not for the super wealthy in this state that benefits 11 people in Wisconsin.

Frederica Freyberg:

Let me get back to that first question. If the Republicans are seeking Democrats help in fashioning an incentive package for Foxconn, are the Democrats in?

Jennifer Shilling:

We certainly want to be helpful in growing our economy in this state. We are supportive of expanding the tax base and adding jobs in the state. But it also comes down to what we need to do for work force development and worker training. And to make sure that our corporate neighbors in the state are responsible in paying their fair share. We certainly want to be helpful that this could land a significant economic boost in our state and in the region.

Frederica Freyberg:

Where would you like to see the money come from for any such package for Foxconn?

Jennifer Shilling:

Well, as we look at, short of, we are in the last creations of this budget as far as we are at an impasse, but a lot of this stuff has already been passed through Joint Finance with an agreement. I think they should be intertwined together because as we are putting together this budget, we need to look ahead to what the next budget will look like the next two years. The officials of Foxconn have come to this state. They are looking at sites. They are interested in work force development and tax incentives. We want to know what that’s going to look like down the road and what that will ultimately effect taxpayers in the state. We need to be responsible to the taxpayers.

Frederica Freyberg:

You feel like any Foxconn package should be inside the current budget?

Jennifer Shilling:

I think we need to look at the budget and have those negotiations in context. And maybe the Foxconn officials are not ready to have to — and the state’s not ready for a complete roll-out. But I think we need to be cognizant of the budget that we are in right now looking ahead two years down the road to 19 and 21. It doesn’t have to be one or the other. I think we can work on tandem but recognizing they both have long-term implications to revenue and to expenditures in this state.

Frederica Freyberg:

As you know, meanwhile Senate Republicans put out their budget plan this week with its increased bonding but then later this week the governor gave the okay to put $200 million from his desired income tax cut to offset that bonding pleasing the Assembly majority. Where do Democrats stand on all of these permutations to quote get it done?

Jennifer Shilling:

We understand Senate Republicans have rejected the latest Walker-Vos plan of moving income tax cuts to transportation for another couple hundred million dollars into transportation. So I think we’re still back to square one. And there still is an impasse. There is not agreement. And again, we want to sit down. They have not reached out to us to look at this transportation package. I think–it shouldn’t be a surprise because in February when the governor unveiled his package, the fact was transportation was one of the big points of contention with the legislature and the governor. And it’s a little bit of a timing head-scratcher that the Senate Republicans three weeks after the budget should be passed is putting forward their own negotiation package and why this wasn’t put forward in May and June when it should have been.

Frederica Freyberg:

Just very briefly with about a half minute left, you have a problem with proposed tax cuts in any of these plans. How so?

Jennifer Shilling:

Well, as you look at directed tax cuts for the middle class and how that really impacts hard-working middle class families, that is where the biggest impact can be for hard-working Wisconsinites. And the fact we continue with a tax cut for 11 millionaires in this state that make over $30 million and receive $23 million in tax credits, I think many of my friends and neighbors here in western Wisconsin can’t relate to that. So as we look at tax relief in this state, it needs to be targeted to the middle class and working families.

Frederica Freyberg:

All right. We leave it there. Senator Shilling, thanks very much.

Jennifer Shilling:

Thank you.