WEAC Paying for Doyle TV Ads

In a rather quick followup to Governor Doyle's recent budget line item changes (details), WEAC is running TV ads supporting his budget changes. Colin Benedict has more:

The first thing you notice about a new ad touting Gov. Jim Doyle's work in the budget is that it feels like a Doyle campaign ad.

But it isn't. Its paid for by the Wisconsin Education Association Council, the state teachers' union. When it paid to run the ad at WISC-TV, WEAC dropped off a 52-page document justifying every claim made in this ad.

The ad says, "After inheriting a budget mess, Gov. Jim Doyle has saved millions by cutting waste and balancing the budget." That is true, News 3 reported. When Doyle took office, the deficit was the largest in state history -- $3.2 billion. However, "cutting waste" is a very subjective term -- one person's waste is another's lifeline.

WEAC's definition of waste is $60 million for Milwaukee's Marquette interchange, $35 million to study work to the zoo interchange, and $94 million in proposed rate increases for nursing homes and other health care providers. Doyle vetoed it all to find more money for schools.

The ad also credits Doyle for balancing the budget. News 3 points out he is required by law to do that. He is not allowed to run deficits like the federal government.

The ad goes on to explain the governor understands working families are being squeezed by taxes.

The ad says, "That's why he froze property taxes, cut the gas tax, and eliminated state taxes on Social Security. All while keeping the state's promise to fund our great schools."

This needs clarification. The ad is giving Doyle credit for three ideas originally introduced by Republicans.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at August 3, 2005 11:13 AM
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