edsci: "I find most of the comments here utterly ridiculous. Since when did we as Americans come to hate each other so much. Those that comment about state or federal services have no idea what you are talking about. If you don't like how government is run then run for government, otherwise your just another talker. The government prints the money. Just print more money. This will only devalue the bonds held by China and OPEC but so what? Their economies depend on our economy. Investing American tax dollars on American companies and American workers is bad? Since when? Its the best investment our government could make. Much better than giving money to the military."
We ALL have the right to comment, whether we "run for government" or not. Ever hear of the First Amendment? Your suggestion to "print more money" is idiotic, altho that is exactly what I expect to happen in the next administration. "Much better than giving money to the military."?!?!?!? You have got to be kidding me!!!!! The military has given you the right to spew your opinions.

Cut back on education, in as much as those usless elective classes go. How far in life will knowing some French words, playing a few notes on the flute, or drawing cute little pictures of kittens and/or puppies take a person in todays day and age? And also reduce the amount of money spent on English/Spanish bilingual tutoriation. These are things that should be required of a separate fee. Quit laying it on property tax payers, many of whom have no children but get stuck paying up the ying-yang for YOUR kids to go to school.

http://www.city-journal.org/html/17_3_ca...

Canada is no different than here. You have to wait to see a doctor or have surgery here also.

People who get free money from the state need to put in some hours each week helping out with maintanance of parks, sides of roads, or any other things they can do. Tell them," ok, for your money this month, you are scheduled for 2 hours of cleaning up Palmer Park etc. That would save lots of money!"

It is time the churches started paying real estate taxes. They receive the same protections from our government services that we do. In times of need, things need to change.

Mandatory drug testing for people receiving food stamps, adults on medical assistance, rental assistance ect. Test positive, lose your benefits. The state would save LOTS of money.

Notice there was no option of "increase productivity and maintain taxes and services where they are." Wonder why? State government must already be as efficient as it can be.

Interesting, I have relatives in Canada, too. Why would they lie? What do my Canadian relatives have to gain?

I saw cut costs! Why would a state employee require a state owned vehicle? Why would the state then pay them for travel time and fuel cost? Why not just pay for travel time and fuel? Should cover wear and tear on the vehicle and put some money in the employee's pocket. I am sure this wouldn't solve the whole problem but it is a start! How about penalizing companies that close up shop and go overseas? Chances are they got tax incentives for being there in the first place, so take it back. Just my $.02 and a little more.

Mikki: I have relatives who live in Canada and I can tell you that alot that you hear about universal healthcare being very expensive and long waiting lines is scare tactics to steer us away from wanting it.

Wow! Yes too much overspending in this Country from City, County, and State to Federal. And who holds these entreaties accountable? Guess not a single person! This is a Government by the People for the People. I don’t know about you but we have to live within our budget we can’t dip into other programs to help meet this month’s cost of living, but that doesn’t stop any Government from doing this. Or guess who approves their own pay increases? You or me? You have it government officials! Wouldn’t it be nice if we could give ourselves our own increase in pay without any accountability to anyone with any questions asked by the public or your employer? This Country needs to get back to the basics we are headed down a long deep tube and fast.

Mikki:
This video clip pretty much says it all!
http://chicagoagainstobama.wordpress.com...

Why would one want to take a pay cut to be some elected government hack? hahaha..That's a good one! Just let these morons screw up, and cash in from their mistakes!

I find most of the comments here utterly ridiculous. Since when did we as Americans come to hate each other so much. Those that comment about state or federal services have no idea what you are talking about. If you don't like how government is run then run for government, otherwise your just another talker. The government prints the money. Just print more money. This will only devalue the bonds held by China and OPEC but so what? Their economies depend on our economy. Investing American tax dollars on American companies and American workers is bad? Since when? Its the best investment our government could make. Much better than giving money to the military.

Also, where would be the incentive for anyone to be healthy? Heck, the government will take care of my health, I will drink and smoke and eat what I want. Screw it!
Kind of like it is now with some of the benefits they give out. Hey, I quit my job, of COURSE I don't eat with my girlfriend and her kids, of COURSE I don't pay rent or anything, give me my food stamps. The government OWES me.
Where is it written when you're born, you're born a ward of the state, that society is mandated to take care of every able bodied person?

dkbush21, if you really look into the countries that DO have universal healthcare, you'd see their taxes are VERY high. Also, there are waiting lists for needed services. You need surgery? You're on a list. You can't just go have it. Then they call you when your name is up. Can't get off work? Too bad. Then your name is put back on the list.

This is a stupid poll. It asks "should the state cut services or raise taxes?" Duh.

What it should have asked was "should the state cut services that you depend upon, or raise taxes."

Now that the IL governor has been exposed on ENDLESS corruption, you see just what goes on in these state governments. Yet these are the clowns people want in charge of billions of $$$'s. And you wonder why we are 5 billion in debt, and growing by the day? haha
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Wonder how long it takes for Diamond Jim Doyle to go down from his endless corruption in this state? Once all this get exposed it should be like the Nirenberg trials.

It's time to do some consolidation of counties, as we often duplicate services and as we have some of the smallest counties by population and area in the United States. I'm fine if we need to buy people out or offer them positions in the new counties. We would still save when attrition leads to reduced employees. This is where our government is most bloated -- duplication of basic services.

Shrink the state government. This does not necessarily equate to reducing services. There is plenty of fat in state government, people in non-productive offices and departments.

How is
D: GETTING A FEDERAL BAILOUT..NOT an option????
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My God we all know that is what is going to happen. There is no way government will ever CUTS SPENDING, or DOWNSIZE. Governmnet is currently the ONLY thing in this economy that has GROWN, and that is a fact! They know a tax increase in midst of a recession will lead to a depression. This has BAILOUT written all over it! Doyle, Sheridan, and company were all big obama supporters. A Democratic regime is coming in! They will get their bailout, NO WORRIES! Everyone else is!
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Sweep the problem under the rug, and a few more trillion on to the national debt, and collapse the economy down the road! That is their plan.

Charge a penny a piece for those who want a baseball and put President G.W. Bush in the dunk tank, and that will fix the deficit. Just kidding, or am I?

In all seriousness, the budget deficit is not something that can be solved right away. Planning is something that should be started, and more people like us should be demanding more accountability from our government. Cutting the wrong programs might havoc a lot of problems. However, we do spend a lot on parks, electricity on government buildings, and money on people in government who may not be actually working all of the hours they report each year, and yet we do not hold them accountable for actually doing something with that "claimed" time.

VernO: most people on badgercare do have jobs, just not ones that carry insurance or insurance that is afforadable for the low income worker. Plus now if they earn a certain dollar amount they have to pay a monthly permium, and copays.
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Badgercare is a godsend to many of the lower income families. And it helps to keep people healthier in the long run rather than most without Insurance use the ER for healthcare wich is more cost in the long run for the taxpayers/hospitals.

Tax the gambling machines they have in taverns and bowling alleys. We would reduce this deficit in a matter of months.

End entitlement, or at least have some accountability for it. That should save a few billion. Most people on Badger Care or alike, should have to apply weekly for jobs that provide insurance that they are capable of holding down, and be monitored for doing so.

Mikki: Why is it that other countries do have universal healthcare with no problems, but here it would be a problem?

beat me to it dub:) say what you want about marijuana, but i dont know of anyone who would actually say its a worse choice than alcohol. maybe on par, but not worse. as soon as the feds de-criminalize it, or remove fed penalties altogethor, you WILL see the states fall like dominoes. the feds really dont care about a deficit, the states however do, and legal or even de-crim marijuana is almost literally a field of cash just waiting to be harvested.

dkush21, no Badgercare Plus is not 'on hold'.
In a perfect world, everyone would have access to health insurance. But to put our country in debt for that?

alethia - good post ! And as whybesad stated..Doyle is spinning the deficit as 5 billion budget deficit when it really is 2.2B. 2.8 billion is new spending !

One of the many reasons we are the 11th highest taxed state is the drain the DNR is on the budget. Hold the DNR accountable to their waste and spending habits in the name of preservation. What a waste. Anybody remember back a few years when the state's GAO did an audit of the DNR and the DNR had no idea where boats, trucks, cars and other variouse capital expenditures were? They had proof they bought the stuff, they just had no idea where it was.

No DUB. In your example, it's not deficit gone. It's a surplus, and growing. Maybe something good can come out of a Liberal ruled Govt....

"Tax" the Illinois weekenders with a toll.

Legalize Marijuana, for recreation, animal feed, fuel products, medicine, and building materials. Let all the farmers grow hemp. Tax it. Deficit gone.

I agree with you on this one Whybesad. The easiest cuts are the inflationary ones. I suspect that $2.8 billion is a soft number. It is about a 10% increase from the last year in the current state budget. It includes those things that the various state agencies are placing in their request submitted to the Governor.

Cut spending. 2.8 billion in new spending is part of the "projected" budget shortfall. Seems you cut cut some fat from that right off the bat.

klick said, "...then charge ALL churches property taxes just like you and me ,including all funds collected in the plate."
Make God's day klick...
Churches Need Not Apply
In order to be considered for tax-exempt status by the IRS an organization must fill out and submit IRS Form 1023 and 1024. However, note what the IRS says regarding churches and church ministries, in Publication 557:
Some organizations are not required to file Form 1023. These include:
Churches, interchurch organizations of local units of a church, conventions or associations of churches, or integrated auxiliaries of a church, such as a men’s or women’s organization, religious school, mission society, or youth group. These organizations are exempt automatically if they meet the requirements of section 501(c)(3).
Churches Are “Automatically Tax-Exempt”

http://hushmoney.org/free-church_solutio...
I want to end 501(c)3's more than you klick... then we'll see who the real shepherds and saints are and reveal these imposters and hirelings.

How to save millions of dollars you can start by cut all funding to special interest groups, and then charge ALL churches property taxes just like you and me ,including all funds collected in the plate.

Wisconsin is already so highly taxed that businesses either won't locate here, or leave to go elsewhere. In addition to that, most people don't know that the per-capita income in Wisconsin is BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. We cannot afford the government we have as it is - we are a poor state and getting poorer courtesy of a bloated monster in Madison. State spending should be cut to zero on everything except what is absolutely necessary, and taxes should be massively cut in order to attract the people and businesses here that in the long run can afford to pay for better services. It's either that, or continue to slide into third-world status - anyone been to Milwaukee lately?

This poll was constructed by a silver-tongued devil! Don't try to pass off these false alternatives baloney to me! Either cut services or raise taxes? Nice job trying to instill FEAR. CUT PROGRAMS!!!! Give me the budget if government and media are too corrupt to deal truthfully with the people they leech off of!!!

Bottom line: We cannot continue to spend more than what comes in and raising taxes only ends up hurting our ability to attract businesses and cause growth. So we need people who are willing to cut out wasteful spending, resist any new spending (until the situation is under control) and yes, even consider cuts during times of economic shortfalls. I would be willing to have small, temporary sales tax increases as well except I agree with the earlier poster. I just don't trust that the increases would ever really be temporary, and then the pattern of overspending just keeps rolling.
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Anyone notice that it's the small handful of energy producing states that continue to enjoy budget surpluses (Alaska, Texas, Louisiana, Wyoming, N. Dakota). Their ability to generate income, along with conservative spending principles keeps these states in the black and should serve as a wake up call to all other states that may be sitting on energy reserves. Keep pressure on Washington to make it easier for more energy production and do your state and the country a favor. Not an immediate fix, but lets actually do some longer term thinking here.

Install a tollway system in the state and only charge those passing thru not living in the state. Just kidding!!!! We have to cut spending and make our law makers more accountable for there actions

Raise taxes-- people spend less--debt stays the same.
Lower taxes-- people spend more--so does government--debt stays the same.
Reduce or eliminate departments/ programs that are no longer necessary. Combine/condense.
Reduce government by 5% overall. Use savings to reduce debt.
If there must be a raise in sales or income tax, and the amount raised is for debt reduction, THEN USE IT FOR DEBT REDUCTION NOT FUNDING A NEW PROGRAM.
Eliminate stupidity, set a standard for fiscal responsibilty and STICK TO IT.
When the residents of WI have to cut back on expenditures to balance their budgets, so should its government.
If and when the debt ever does get down to a manageable amount, think before spending any savings,. otherwise we start the process all over again

Roads, airports, schools, parks, health care, pensions, maintaince of all, police, fire, teachers, quest, homeless, elder care, land preserverence,tourism, etc.... Where should we begin? We overly rely on government and have taught our children to do the same (now that's heredity)! As Kennedy said; Ask not what my Country can do for me but, what can I do for my Country?

If a business would be run like the Government that business wouldn't be in business very long.

We are 11th highest taxed State in the Country. Revenue isn't the problem it's spending. The UW system wastes a ton of money and yet keep raising tuition. Being in the State or Federal government shouldn't be someones career. That is part of the problem they are to scared to make the tough choices in fear of not being re-elected again. Well, in this day and age tough choices need to be made. Doyle needs to take a look at the 2.8 billion in the deficit that is all NEW spending. How many of you have gone by a County work project and see 5 guys there with two guys actually working and the other three watching leaning on their shovels. Each one of them drove there own truck and those trucks are parked with the engines running? Seems a bit wasteful.

First of all, I think all aliens,illeagel or otherwise should pay for their health care or we as a state, should demand money from the countries they came from. I know this is only a small part of the problem but, we have to start somewhere. Mexico and Asian countries should be billed for their respective immigrants healthcare!! The people who are leagel citizens , we can cut them some slack / reduced charges.

Cutting spending is tough for politicians to do. Every program has a constituency group that remembers cuts at election time. Any given program has supporters who will insist that their program is vital and must be fully funded, including the anticipated spending increases.
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Some of the appeal of these spending programs is voter gratitude at election time. Cuts turn grateful voters into outraged voters.
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Even pay freezes are nearly impossible to accomplish. There was an item in the Gazette a few days ago that said the UW system employees were willing to forgo half their raise in these trying economic times. Half? Only half? I'm sure they were all congratulating each other for their willingness to sacrifice. I wonder what they'll think if they are asked to take a pay cut, a real cut, not just a reduction in their anticipated raises. Not much chance of that though, as the state's politicians don't have the backbone for that fight.

Spanky
I'm sure Doyle has his hand out at the meeting with Obama.
And to think i voted for Doyle , so he could raise taxes on tobacco and run people in other States just to name one . as Archy would say he's a meathead dead from the neck up.

The state budget is complicated and defies easy fixes. During the "good economic times" sales tax and income tax revenue grow with the economy. They are an invisible tax increase not seen or felt. In a downturn, the expenditures continue to rise as revenues fall. The easy anwser is to cut expenditures, but in practice it is very difficult.
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A big chunk of state funding goes to the two-thirds funding of school districts. A lot of money is on the block, but no successful politician makes a career on cutting funding to K12 education. Another big chunk of change lies with Medicaid. So who do you think will cast the first in the Assembly to throw grandma out of the nursing home? A billion goes to cities, counties, and villages to run state mandated programs. Cut there and your local services go to hell or your property taxes go up. Pick your poison - no garbage pick-up or higher taxes. Department of Corrections uses a billion or so per year. Do you think State Senator Toughoncrime is going to vote to close a few prisons and save a couple hundred million? Didn't think so. How about the $1 billion going into the UW system. Who is going to vote for massive cuts to the system (except of course the hater of higher education, Steve Nass)?
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So, where do the cuts begin? Do we graduate kids in 11th grade, do we furlough prisoners, do we shut down state government?

In this time of crisis we all have to cut back. This should include the State. Increasing taxes only SEEMS to raise revenue. As taxes increase, people shop elsewhere or just move away - resulting in a decrease in revenue.

Cutting spending is the way to go. This may include very painful choices - like state funded health care.

Mikki: I think BadgerCare PLUS is on hold right now. We should all have health insurance. That is why I am for universal healthcare. But our government needs to make sure that illegal immigrants do not get it. They are not entitled to it.

Be careful at asking for a temporary increase in sales tax. Nothing is temporary. It ALWAYS ends up becoming permanent because when more money comes in, the more our legislature and government find ways to waste it. And then we will be in the same situation like we are now, looking for more tax increases.

I'm sure Doyle has his hand out at the meeting with Obama.

I don't see why anyone should be surprised. They brought in that Badgercare Plus, so more people could get on. Advertised it all over the place. So now more people are on medical assistance. No wonder the state is broke.

Only one of these choices will not be the solution. It's going to have to be a combination of efforts...just like what's going on in the private sector. Analyze all new spending, no pay increases, small tax increases, look at efficiencies, etc.

The 5 billion budget deficit includes 2.8 billion in new spending. How about cut out the new spending for starters.

I don't think there is just one thing that can be done. Government probably needs an overhaul just like the federal government does.

Healthcare and education are two areas that shouldn't be cut at all. Protection services shouldn't be cut either. So, where do cuts come from? Cutting jobs hurts the economy more. Freeze pay increases. Cut overtime. Don't purchase things that aren't needed; don't overbuy supplies.

Raising income taxes on all ready financially strapped unemployed won't help neither would increasing sales taxes. However raising them both would result in possibly more income from those who have money and jobs.

Legislatures taking a paycut on state and federal levels would help as well.

And the Gazette assumes there is absolutely no government waste here? I'm sure there are cuts that can be made without cutting services. Nonetheless, if services need to be cut than so be it. We are not going to entice businesses to move to Wisconsin with higher taxes.

I think a combination of the 3. People constantly expect everything to get better or at the very least, stay the same, but they don't want to pay for the improvements. The national economy is in the toilet, so it's obvious there will have to be some sacrifices made by all to get back to a balanced budget. Hopefully our elected officials can come up with answers that won't hurt anyone too badly, but one way or another, we'll all have to pay a bit. I would rather see a higher increase in sales tax than income tax. Even another .5% increase in sales tax, if just temporarily, could have a huge impact on the state's budget without having a huge impact on the consumer. To go from 5.5% sales tax to 6% would hardly be noticeable, but to have an increase in income tax would be noticed by everyone because all our paychecks would be smaller.