The partisan divide over how to fund K-12 education in Wisconsin was readily apparent as the Joint Finance Committee began deliberation on funding education programs. With the nearly $5 billion general school aids appropriation first on the agenda, the gloves came off and the rhetoric was heated.

Assembly Republicans on the committee offered a $100 per pupil revenue limit increase. The Governor's budget continued the precedent of increasing the per pupil increase by inflation, or $264 per student in 2007-08. Two years ago when the GOP controlled both legislative houses, a $100 per pupil revenue limit increase in the biennial budget was vetoed by Gov. Doyle.

Rep. Robin Vos (R-Racine) said the motion will control local taxes and provide $289 million in property tax relief and that school aids were increasing. "This is not a cut," Voss maintained.

But committee Democrats would have none of it. "This is an immoral proposal," said Sen. Bob Jauch (D-Poplar). "It's reckless and immoral." Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison) said, "There are losers and losers in our current school funding system. This is a serious cut to education no matter how you paint it."

Sen. Mark Miller (D-Monona) said the revenue limit law has caused "a slow, steady erosion in our schools." Under the proposal, over the next two years, Madison Schools would have to cut $12.1 million in addition to the current annual $6-8 million estimate of cuts required by state-imposed revenue limits.

The Governor's budget allows for a 1.7% increase in school aids for next year and a 1.6% increase the following year. Ultimately, the motion failed 6-10, with the two Senate Republicans joining the committee's eight Democrats. Legislative observers believe the Assembly Republicans' version of the budget will include the $100 revenue limit increase, similar to two years ago. Republicans hold a 53-46 partisan advantage in the Assembly.

Partisan tempers also flared over an additional $6 million needed for the state SAGE (Student Achievement Guarantee in Education) allocation. The number of low-income students in SAGE classes has increased since Doyle's budget introduction, thus more state resources are needed to fund the $250 per pupil SAGE increase.

GOP members balked, even though the increase in SAGE aid was tied to a deal the GOP cut with Doyle last year to expand the Milwaukee voucher program enrollment. Expect Senate Democrats to include the SAGE increase in their version of the budget.

Most of Doyle's K-12 budget provisions held during the JFC deliberations. Once the JFC finishes its work on the budget, the bill goes to the Senate, and then to the Assembly. The budget will be the Legislature's focus in June, with both houses offering markedly different versions. Eventually, a conference committee comprised of four Republicans and four Democrats from the two houses will reconcile the differences. This process could last long into the summer. A final conference committee report is voted up or down by each house, with no amendments allowed.