Democrats urge moderate Republicans to join them

Call is to vote against the stage budget this week

MADISON, Wis. — Democrats in the state Legislature are calling on moderate Republicans to join with them in voting against the state budget this week.

At least one Republican, conservative state Rep. Steve Nass, of Whitewater, said Monday he would be voting against the budget in the Assembly for a variety of reasons. But at least 10 other Republicans would have to join him to stop the plan there.

It would only take two Republicans to join with Democrats in the Senate to stop passage of the budget there. Democrats on Monday held a news conference urging Republicans who have publicly expressed concerns with aspects of the budget including voucher school growth, income tax cuts and rejecting a Medicaid expansion to vote with them.

Assembly budget debate begins Tuesday.