MAYBE ONE DAY PIGS WILL FLY:

Wisconsin Governor, a Democrat, Sounds Positively Republican (Joanne M. Haas, February 04, 2003, CNSnews.com)

In a State of the State speech that was interrupted with standing ovations and applause from Republicans as well as Democrats, [Gov. Jim] Doyle had the GOP crowd scratching their heads wondering if the new governor was really a closet Republican.

"I think the Republicans should be very comfortable with that speech. It could have been delivered by George Bush. It could have been delivered by Ronald Reagan," said Republican state Sen. Ted Kanavas, whose district includes the Milwaukee suburbs. [...]

In recent days, Gov. Doyle and state budget director David Riemer have warned that state spending cuts will be deep and painful. "They will be more severe and hit more agencies and result in more positions eliminated and layoffs than this state has ever seen," Riemer has said publicly on a few occasions.

"Over the last 15 years, state government spending more than doubled," Doyle said in his State of State speech. "The state workforce grew by more than 11,500 people.

"More than 166,000 of our people are out of work. Revenues to the state are down by more than $900 million. All the while, government has continued to spend more and promise more," Doyle said.

"The picture seems bleak. And our situation demands tough choices. But I'm bullish on Wisconsin...and I know we can solve it together." [...]

In a speech that was interrupted numerous times by booming applause and standing ovations, none was louder than when Doyle reiterated his most-repeated campaign promise. "Going forward, my mind will be open to every solution - except one," Doyle said of proposals to remedy the deficit. "We should not -- we must not -- and I will not -- raise taxes.

"Wisconsin's problem is not that we tax too little. It is that we spend too much," Doyle said.

Because Bill Clinton wasted his presidency, when he might have acted as Governor Doyle is, perhaps only a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution will ever provide the pressure on Democrats and cover for Republicans to cut federal government spending. Posted by Orrin Judd at February 5, 2003 10:55 PM