Feb 20 (Reuters) – Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker proposed a nearly $70 billion biennial budget on Wednesday that combines income tax cuts with increased spending on transportation infrastructure and private education.
Walker, a first-term Republican facing re-election next year, said he would offset the tax cuts and spending increases contained in his 2013-2015 budget by redirecting some funds away from public schools and healthcare, freezing aid to local governments and selling off state assets such as power plants.
Democrats said the proposal would weaken the economic security of the state’s most vulnerable residents.
Walker, who touched off massive protests two years ago when he curbed the collective bargaining rights of public workers, said his proposed income tax cut would save residents $343 million.
“More money in the hands of taxpayers will likely drive greater demand for goods and services, which will likely lead to greater production and eventually more hiring of employees,” he said.
The proposed budget, unveiled in an address to both houses of the Legislature in Madison, included expanded state aid to private schools through voucher programs and the tightening of income eligibility requirements for recipients of publicly funded health programs.
Walker said he also wanted “able-bodied, non-elderly” people receiving food stamps in Wisconsin to be enrolled in mandatory employment training.
“I’m all for providing a temporary hand up,” he told lawmakers. “But … it should not be a permanent handout.
Democrats, who tried unsuccessfully last year to recall Walker, were critical of the proposed budget.
State Senator Kathleen Vinehout, who was a candidate for governor in the Democratic primary ahead of last year’s recall election, said, “Roads and bridges are being paid for by borrowing and raiding money that would otherwise go to schools and universities.
“These are political choices, not the choices voters in Wisconsin would make.”
Walker’s proposed budget will now go to the state Legislature, which is controlled by Walker’s fellow Republicans.
Debate on the measure is expected to continue for months.

Copyright 2013 Thomson Reuters. Click for Restrictions.

Related on HuffPost:

Loading Slideshow...
  • Robert Bentley (R-Ala.)

    Took office: Jan. 2011

    Term ends: Jan. 2015

  • Sean Parnell (R-Alaska)

    Took office: July 2009

    Term ends: Dec. 2014

  • Jan Brewer (R-Ariz.)

    Took office: Jan. 2009

    Term ends: Jan. 2015

  • Mike Beebe (D-Ark.)

    Took office: Jan. 2007

    Term ends: Jan. 2015

  • Jerry Brown (D-Calif.)

    Took office: Jan. 2011

    Term ends: Jan. 2015

  • John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.)

    Took office: Jan. 2011

    Term ends: Jan. 2015

  • Dannel P. Malloy (D-Conn.)

    Took office: Jan. 2011

    Term ends: Jan. 2015

  • Jack Markell (D-Del.)

    Took office: Jan. 2009

    Term ends: Jan. 2017

  • Rick Scott (R-Fla.)

    Took office: Jan. 2011

    Term ends: Jan. 2015

  • Nathan Deal (R-Ga.)

    Took office: Jan. 2011

    Term ends: Jan. 2015

  • Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii)

    Took office: Dec. 2010

    Term ends: Dec. 2014

  • Butch Otter (R-Idaho)

    Took office: Jan. 2007

    Term ends: Jan. 2015

  • Pat Quinn (D-Ill.)

    Took office: Jan. 2009

    Term ends: Jan. 2015

  • Mike Pence (R-Ind.)

    Took office: Jan. 2013

    Term ends: Jan. 2017

  • Terry Branstad (R-Iowa)

    Took office: Jan. 2011

    Term ends: Jan. 2015

  • Sam Brownback (R-Kan.)

    Took office: Jan. 2011

    Term ends: Jan. 2015

  • Steve Beshear (D-Ky.)

    Took office: Dec. 2007

    Term ends: Dec. 2015

  • Bobby Jindal (R-La.)

    Took office: Jan. 2008

    Term ends: Jan. 2016

  • Paul LePage (R-Maine)

    Took office: Jan. 2011

    Term ends: Jan. 2015

  • Martin O’Malley (D-Md.)

    Took office: Jan. 2011

    Term ends: Jan. 2015

  • Deval Patrick (D-Mass.)

    Took office: Jan. 2007

    Term ends: Jan. 2015

  • Rick Snyder (R-Mich.)

    Took office: Jan. 2011

    Term ends: Jan. 2015

  • Mark Dayton (D-Minn.)

    Took office: Jan. 2011

    Term ends: Jan. 2015

  • Phil Bryant (R-Miss.)

    Took office: Jan. 2012

    Term ends: Jan. 2016

  • Jay Nixon (D-Mo.)

    Took office: Jan. 2009

    Term ends: Jan. 2017

  • Steve Bullock (D-Mont.)

    Took office: Jan. 2013

    Term ends: Jan. 2017

  • Dave Heineman (R-Neb.)

    Took office: Jan. 2005

    Term ends: Jan. 2015

  • Brian Sandoval (R-Nev.)

    Took office: Jan. 2011

    Term ends: Jan. 2015

  • Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.)

    Took office: Jan. 2013

    Term ends: JAn. 2015

  • Chris Christie (R-N.J.)

    Took office: Jan. 2010

    Term ends: Jan. 2014

  • Susana Martinez (R-N.M.)

    Took office: Jan. 2011

    Term ends: Jan. 2015

  • Andrew Cuomo (D-N.Y.)

    Took office: Jan. 2011

    Term ends: Jan. 2015

  • Pat McCrory (R-N.C.)

    Took office: Jan. 2013

    Term ends: Jan. 2017

  • Jack Dalrymple (R-N.D.)

    Took office: Dec. 2010

    Term ends: Dec. 2016

  • John Kasich (R-Ohio)

    Took office: Jan. 2011

    Term ends: Jan. 2015

  • Mary Fallin (R-Okla.)

    Took office: Jan. 2011

    Term ends: Jan. 2015

  • John Kitzhaber (D-Ore.)

    Took office: Jan. 2011

    Term ends: Jan. 2015

  • Tom Corbett (R-Pa.)

    Took office: Jan. 2011

    Term ends: JAn. 2015

  • Lincoln Chafee (I-R.I.)

    Took office: Jan. 2011

    Term ends: Jan. 2015

  • Nikki Haley (R-S.C.)

    Took office: Jan. 2011

    Term ends: Jan. 2015

  • Dennis Daugaard (R-S.D.)

    Took office: Jan. 2011

    Term ends: Jan. 2015

  • Bill Haslam (R-Tenn.)

    Took office: Jan. 2011

    Term ends: Jan. 2015

  • Rick Perry (R-Texas)

    Took office: Dec. 2000

    Term ends: Jan. 2015

  • Gary Herbert (R-Utah)

    Took office: Aug. 2009

    Term ends: Jan. 2017

  • Peter Shumlin (D-Vt.)

    Took office: Jan. 2011

    Term ends: Jan. 2015

  • Bob McDonnell (R-Va.)

    Took office: Jan. 2010

    Term ends: Jan. 2014

  • Jay Inslee (D-Wash.)

    Took office: Jan. 2013

    Term ends: JAn. 2017

  • Earl Ray Tomblin (D-W.V.)

    Took office: Nov. 2010

    Term ends: Jan. 2017

  • Scott Walker (R-Wis.)

    Took office: Jan. 2011

    Term ends: Jan. 2015

  • Matt Mead (R-Wyo.)

    Took office: Jan. 2011

    Term ends: Jan. 2015