MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has released a two-year budget plan that cuts $1.5 billion in aid to public schools and local governments. It also avoids tax or fee increases, employee furloughs or widespread layoffs — if his contentious collective bargaining proposal is put in place.
The Republican governor is refusing to budge on a plan to eliminate most public employee collective bargaining rights. The proposal has stirred a national debate and drawn tens of thousands of protesters to the Capitol.
Walker released a full budget plan Tuesday that he says bolsters his argument for union concessions to deal with a projected $3.6 billion budget shortfall.
He says eliminating most collective bargaining will allow state agencies, local governments and school districts flexibility to react quickly to the cuts he’s proposing.
