In a move to finally get the stalled state budget passed, Gov. Jim Doyle said today that unless lawmakers pass the spending bill by Friday, he will call them into special session on Monday to take up a compromise proposal.
Doyle, who has played host to two weeks of closed-door negotiations between Senate Democratic and Assembly Republican leaders, said he has “become convinced” that the two sides cannot reach agreement. Doyle introduced a budget plan in February, and the two houses have each passed a version of the bill, but the attempts by the two sides to reach a final compromise have dragged on since July.
The governor’s comments came this morning during a news conference on the steps of the Memorial Union, where he underscored the need for a new budget to provide more student financial aid.