Governor
Upon Doyle's taking office, Wisconsin faced a $3.2 billion deficit. The state ended the year 2003 with a deficit of $2.15 billion. Proposals for new programs were constrained by continued budget-cutting and his decision to honor a campaign pledge to not raise taxes. Facing political pressure, he signed a property tax freeze that has resulted in an anticipated decrease in average statewide property taxes in 2003. Doyle's stated priorities were investing in public schools, including the University of Wisconsin system; lowering property taxes; regional economic development; transportation reform; and funding of stem cell research.
In February 2007, Doyle proposed taxing oil companies more than $270 million over the next two years to help pay for the state's transportation needs. This tax did not pass in that budget and was re-introduced in the January 2009 proposed budget where it did not pass.
On January 2, 2009, Doyle joined the governors of four states in urging the federal government to provide $1 trillion in aid to the country's 50 state governments to help pay for education, welfare and infrastructure as states struggled with steep budget deficits amid a deepening recession.
On May 19, 2009 Doyle proposed a 75-cent per pack increase in the cigarette tax, an "assessment" against oil companies to help pay for road improvements, imposition of sales tax on music downloads and cell phone ringtones, and a 1 percent hike in the state income tax for individuals earning above $300,000 a year (approximately 1 percent of the state's population).
Doyle served as Chair of the Midwestern Governors Association in 2007.
In October 2007, the Republican-led Assembly, Democrat-controlled Senate, and Governor Doyle passed a balanced budget that approved transferring $200 million from a medical malpractice fund to the Medical assistance trust fund. In July 2010, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that the transfer was illegal and that the state must restore the money to the malpractice fund.
Following the election of Barack Obama it was rumored that Doyle, an early supporter of Obama's bid for President, was being offered a cabinet post, an ambassadorship to Ireland, or a job as head of the Peace Corps. The rumors turned out to be untrue.
Read more about this topic: Jim Doyle
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