Conservatively Speaking
State Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) represents parts of four counties: Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, and Walworth. Her Senate District 28 includes New Berlin, Franklin, Greendale, Hales Corners, Muskego, Waterford, Big Bend and parts of Greenfield, East Troy, and Mukwonago. Senator Lazich has been in the Legislature for more than a decade. She considers herself a tireless crusader for lower taxes, reduced spending and smaller government.
State Budget Watch-Joint Finance Committee to hold public hearing in Milwaukee Tuesday
By Mary Lazich
Monday, Mar 19 2007, 04:54 PM
The state Legislature’s budget-writing committee, the Joint Finance Committee will hold a public hearing on the biennial state budget Tuesday, March 20, 2007 in Milwaukee. The hearing will be held at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee Student Union in the Wisconsin Room on the 2nd Floor, 2200 East Kenwood Boulevard. It is scheduled from 10:30 a.m. -4:30 p.m. but will probably run longer to accommodate a likely large crowd.
I encourage you to attend this public hearing. At the very least you will get an education about the state budget process. My years of experience in the Legislature tell me Tuesday’s Joint Finance Committee session will have the same pattern of past public hearings. If you attend, watch as nearly 90 percent of the testimony will be petitioning the Legislature to spend more money. Committee members get a distorted view of the public’s true sentiments on the budget. The faction of the public vehemently opposed to increased spending and the Governor’s proposed increase of $1.74 billion in taxes and fees is not represented because they are working to pay the bills, and unable to attend the hearing to express opposition to a bloated budget.
I encourage you to attend the hearing and testify. If you cannot attend, please make sure to voice your budget concerns to me and other state elected officials by phone, e-mail, or a letter. It’s important because the overwhelming majority of the people testifying before the Joint Finance Committee will be asking lawmakers to spend more of your money. If that idea is of concern to you, then it’s critical you get involved and present legislators the taxpayer’s view to consider.
