MADISON (AP) - The state would sell 23 of its 30 planes under aproposal approved by the Legislature's budget committee Thursday.
The Joint Finance Committee approved the proposal, 15-1, orderingthe Administration Department to offer the planes for sale by June30, 2003.
The proceeds would first be used to pay off any debt the stateowes on the planes. The remaining money would be put back in thestate's general fund to pay for various programs.
The state's fleet of planes is worth about $15.3 million,according to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau. The AdministrationDepartment can pick which planes to sell.
The proposal was part of the Joint Finance Committee's efforts toamend Gov. Scott McCallum's revised budget proposal. The committee,made up equally of members from the Assembly and Senate, will sendthe amended version to the full Legislature for a vote.
The Legislature must pass the same version of the amended bill andthen send it to McCallum for his approval before it becomes law.
The governor had ordered the Administration Department on Mondayto sell 15 planes and 10 percent of the state's car fleet to helpmake up part of the state's $1.1 billion budget shortfall.
Rep. Dean Kaufert, R-Neenah, was the only committee member to voteagainst the proposal, saying he preferred to have the AdministrationDepartment study McCallum's proposed cut first.
Local leaders have criticized the state for buying three Swiss-made planes last year for $9 million. They are used for travel by topstate officials, blind and deaf students and sports teams.
In other legislative action:
* The state would use federal money to pay for $3.6 million inanti-terrorism grants to local governments under a proposal approvedby the Legislature's budget committee Thursday.
The Joint Finance Committee voted, 16-0, to use part of the $19.3million in federal grants the state is expected to receive forbioterrorism preparedness activities to fund the grants proposed byGov. Scott McCallum.
McCallum had proposed using state taxpayer money for the grants inhis revised budget proposal.
The $3.6 million would provide local- governments with money foremergency response equipment and training.
The committee also voted unanimously to eliminate the cabinetposition McCallum proposed to oversee the state's terrorismpreparedness efforts.
* The committee also voted, 12-4, Thursday to eliminate five newpositions for the Capitol Police that McCallum had requested becauseof increased security demands at state buildings since Sept. 11.
* Lawmakers remained at an impasse over campaign finance reformThursday after the Assembly again rejected an offer from the Senateto meet and work out differences on legislation that would providepublic money for state political races. The Assembly voted, 54-43,Thursday against taking up a resolution that would form a conferencecommittee made up of Democrats and Republicans from both houses.
The Assembly also had rejected voting on the resolution to createa conference committee Tuesday.
Assembly Minority Leader Spencer Black, D-Madison, said Republicanleaders' delay in working out a compromise imperiled the chances thatthe Legislature would approve meaningful campaign finance reform.
Lawmakers are scheduled to adjourn March 14, ending the 2001-2002session. Legislation that is not approved by both houses before thenhas to begin the legislative process again next year.
Copyright 2000 by Telegraph Herald, All rights Reserved.
