State loses lawsuit over fund transfer
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A ruling by the Wisconsin Supreme Court has blown a $200 million hole in the state budget.
The court ruled Tuesday that a $200 million transfer out of a medical malpractice fund to help balance the budget in 2007 was illegal. The court in a 5-2 ruling overturned a lower court's decision dismissing the lawsuit by the Wisconsin Medical Society.
The society, which represents doctors argued the transfer amounted to an illegal raid by the state and the Supreme Court agreed. The fund is used to help Wisconsin health care providers pay medical malpractice claims.
A Dane County judge dismissed the case in 2008, but the Medical Society appealed. The Supreme Court on Tuesday sent the case back to circuit court with directions that it order the state to pay back the money with interest.
Jul 20, 2010 at 4:11 p.m.
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Didn't Thompson also raid the Employee Trust fund that pays government workers' retirement? Courts said he had to pay that one back...
Jul 20, 2010 at 3:17 p.m.
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Tommy Thompson was the first to "raid" the Transportation Fund.
Jul 20, 2010 at 1:47 p.m.
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Income for the state has dropped to almost nothing, yet you folks still want the same benefits you where receiving when the Republicans where in office. Ok folks vote your republican in and I want to see a rabbit pulled out of the hat where income will meet the expenses that you are expecting from the state. I bet you will close your eyes as the state goes deeper in debt with very little income coming in.
Jul 20, 2010 at 12:36 p.m.
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Gov. Doyle rode into office 8 years ago promising to fix the irresponsible budget deficit his predecessor left. Now he'll leave office with a projected budget deficit of $2.5 billion with another $200 million + interest thrown on the pile. What a legacy Gov. Doyle has left himself.
Jul 20, 2010 at 10:36 a.m.
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OK people, get out and vote for your candidate and then hold their toes to the fire to do what you elected them to do! NO MORE FREE RIDES!!!
Jul 20, 2010 at 10:31 a.m.
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The $45million dollar "surplus" they are touting is done with smoke and mirrors and as a weak attempt to keep the Democrats in control at election time.
The reality is nearly every fund was raided and the last 8 years have been a financial holocaust for the people of Wisconsin that will take decades to dig out of. Diamond Jim's legacy may well be the bankruptcy of our state.
Jul 20, 2010 at 9:57 a.m.
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The elected people of this state have a habit of shoddy budget practices. If only the voters paid more attention at the ballot and held these people, who work for the voters, responsible...
Jul 20, 2010 at 8:08 a.m.
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Great now if we can just get them to put the money back that they raided from all the other funds we will be in good shape. The states transportation fund comes to mind. It too was raided by the democrats to fund their wild spending. Good bye Jimmy and so long to all the other tax and spend democrats come November.
Jul 20, 2010 at 7:36 a.m.
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Excellent!
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