Gov. Jim Doyle on Monday vetoed 81 items worth $10 million out of the two-year $62 billion state budget.
Doyle announced the vetoes the same day he signed into law the new budget, which plugs a record $6.6 billion shortfall. It marks the first time since 1977 that a state budget has passed the Legislature and been signed into law before the start of the new fiscal year on July 1.
Doyle’s vetoes leave intact most of the major parts of the budget deal reached by the Democratic-controlled Legislature, including a new 75-cent tax on cigarettes and a 75-cent monthly fee on all phone users.