“31 Ways in 31 Days” Begins the Process of Rebalancing Wisconsin’s Priorities

Now that Wisconsin Act 32, the 2011-13 biennial budget, has been signed into law, the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families (WCCF) has turned its focus forward to promoting positive change for children and families in Wisconsin. Throughout the budget process, WCCF has expressed disappointment at policymakers’ unwillingness to employ a more balanced approach to the state’s fiscal challenges.

The newly enacted budget instead dug the hole deeper through tax breaks for big corporations and the state’s wealthiest residents, while making devastating cuts in such critical areas as education, health care, public transportation, and funding for an array of municipal and county services.

“The budget that was just signed by Gov. Walker is based on the false premise that Wisconsin has no choice but to balance the budget through deep, painful cuts to programs for children and families,” said WCCF Executive Director Ken Taylor. “But we know there were other, better choices. Our task now is to work toward a better vision for Wisconsin’s future—a future in which investments are made in our children and our families not only because it is the right thing to do, but also because it is the smart thing to do for economic development.”

To that end, on July 1 WCCF is launching a month-long series of blog posts examining the many ways this state budget will affect children and families. The series, “31 Ways in 31 Days” (timed to coincide with the first month of the new fiscal year) will also outline better options the state should consider moving forward.The aim of this series is to highlight the direct and meaningful ways in which people’s lives are touched by the budget decisions our elected leaders have made, and demonstrate that we can do better,” said Taylor. “The budget is not just about making the numbers add up. It is about how we, as Wisconsinites, choose to share the benefits and the burdens of living together in this great state. This budget shifts more of the burden and less of the benefit toward children and families. The work of restoring the balance must begin now.”

All “31 Ways in 31 Days” entries can be read here.