instead of the feds giving that money to insurance companies and auto thieves they should give 50,000 to homeowners. that will give the economy more money any way you look at it.

Since when is it the Federal Government's responsibility to pay for State programs.

what is next. Are you going to ask your neighbor to pick milk and eggs for you too.

Our country is turing into a bunch of entitlement welfare slugs.

janesvillean,
I'm sure you are aware that the government is spending tax payer money. So you decide not to spend money -- do you have the problem with government spending your money for you?
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The "stimulus" plan won't work. In the words of Ronald Reagan: "Government is not the solution to our problem. Government is the problem."

According to page 8A of the Gazette (2-10-09), the state of Wisconsin has an estimated deficit of $5.7 billion, and it spends $12.3 billion every two years on K-12 education.
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Why don't we just postpone K-12 education for a year? Take a break from classes for the 2009-10 school year and put the money towards balancing the budget. It will give communities a chance to see what kind of enrollment changes will come from all the layoffs and prepare for lower numbers attending classes the following year.
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All the 16-18 year-old kids can spend a year working full-time at the new minimum wage to help out family finances and places that cater to children will do booming business with the extra 8 hours per day the kids will have free from educational obligations.
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We can put the $450 million change into the transportation fund and fill some potholes in this summer, without Doyle having to steal back some money he took out for "teacher's pet" projects.

Get your priorities straight Doyle...we have ours straight.

Don't use "basic services, such as firefighting" as a scare tactic.

You might start by getting rid of Tanya Bjork, (Gov. Jim Doyle's administration has hired a former legislative aide convicted of two misdemeanors in the caucus scandal to a six-figure job leading the state's federal lobbying effort.)

It's the taxpayers that are "very discouraged."

Just a thought...Aren't the consumers and the taxpayers the same people?

Or two...Why is it that whenever funding is in question the first items threatened to be affected are education, firefighting, snow plowing, and road repair? Wouldn't be refreshing if they said "I'll have to cut my support staff", or "forfeit my personal days and sick days", or (God forbid) take a pay cut!!!:)

I second it,get rid of these "FAT CAT'S". If we have to go back to living like we did in the 60's,so be it.We had family values back then,not the ME ME ME ,WANT WANT WANT,get back to needs! I'll bet not one of the janesville fat cat's watched the pres.last night,they wouldn't want the main man telling them to quit spending on crap ya don't need. That ice arena has been nothing but a DEAD HORSE to this town,but just keep up your shallow idea's, god's of the hill!!

Well Doyle, if you hadn't been on a spending spree yourself these last few years maybe we wouldn't, as a state, be in the mess we are in! Let's remember to vote the next election!! Get them out of there!

Talk about a scare tactic from Doyle....Firefighting?!?!? Puh-leezzeee.. That should be the last thing that gets cut even during hard times.

Economist Paul Krugman has said that the aid to state and local governments is one of the most important elements of the stimulus, since it helps them maintain spending that they are already doing. Without aid, they'll stop spending, further slowing the economy.
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The "centrist compromise" is bunk. The bill is not perfect, but it must spend money, because consumers are not.