Budget Battle
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Barrett took questions about a future state budget if elected as Governor, as two Republicans are calling on him to release his financial plans. Video by nbc26.com
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DE PERE, WI - Tom Barrett was in De Pere Thursday as he kicked off a new Neighbor-to-Neighbor voter outreach program. But Barrett took questions about a future state budget if elected as Governor, as two Republicans are calling on him to release his financial plans.
Not only do the co-chairs of the Joint Committee on Finance want Barrett to talk about a future budget, but they want to know how Barrett would have handled the previous budget differently than Gov. Scott Walker did.
“Now we need to ask Mayor Barrett how you would have done things differently,” said Rep. Robin Vos, Co- Chair of the Joint Committee on Finance.
Vos said Gov. Walker was clear on his financial plans, and now they want Barrett to do the same.
“We can get basic questions answered so we every citizen understands the contrast between how we've done things because we have a record,” said Vos.
At the Neighbor-to-Neighbor outreach program, Barrett met voters from northeast Wisconsin right in their front lawns. He said the letter from Republicans is a political stunt, and the Governor should be on the budget hot seat, saying the current budget isn't balanced.
“I'm not going to let them wash their hands of this because they don't have a balanced budget,” said Barrett. “I think since they have the job right now, they should answer show they're going to balance this budget that’s under this jurisdiction,” he said.
In reference to the previous budget, Barrett said he would not have cut wind energy projects and given tax breaks to wealthy companies. But Republicans say they want more. What about education and Medicaid, and how Barrett would restore collective bargaining.
“We’re focused on what will the next two and a half years look like for Wisconsin families, small businesses and retirees,” said Rep. Vos.
Barrett said he has a successful financial plan in his city.
“I can certainly point to my budget in Milwaukee and say my budget was balanced, he [Walker] can't do that right now with his budget,” said Barrett.
Barrett hit the campaign trail hard Thursday. He met with voters in Wauwatosa, De Pere, and Wausau.
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