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State budget signed

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Wisconsin finally has a new state budget, nearly four months late. Governor Doyle signed it this morning at the University of Wisconsin in Madison after vetoing a provision allowing free shots of liquor to be distributed at your local grocery store. A provision slipped into the budget at the last minute would have allowed up to one and a half ounces of liquor to be handed out for free. Doyle said in his veto message that he strongly objects to that. The governor also vetoed a new three-tiered distribution system for wine sold in the state. Doyle says the new system would have stifled the state's small wineries, perhaps forcing them out of business. The governor also relaxed property tax limits on local governments for the current year. Doyle is allowing it to be nearly 4 percent, instead the 2 percent lawmakers set. Doyle says the 2 percent cap would have been a hardship for local governments this year. The governor says the budget will require state government to become more efficient, but layoffs won't be required. Doyle said last week there may have to be a partial government shutdown, and layoffs of state workers, if a deal wasn't reached soon. The budget includes a $1 per pack increase in the cigarette tax, which takes effect January first. It also includes higher fees for registering and titling a car and obtaining a driver's license.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.