QEO APPEARS TO BE ON THE WAY OUT

Republicans fail in attempt to keep teacher cap - May 28, 2009
MADISON, Wis. (AP) - A 16-year-old state law that effectively places a cap on teacher pay increases would remain in place for only one more year under the budget being finalized by a legislative committee.

Gov. Jim Doyle and the state’s biggest teachers union have long advocated for doing away with the so-called qualified economic offer. But Republicans in control in the Legislature blocked it.

This year Democrats are in power and Doyle again proposed doing away with it. Republicans and other supporters say it is needed to keep property taxes in check.

Under the budget being voted on Thursday by the Joint Finance Committee, the law would be repealed effective July 1, 2010.

If this passes, and the revenue caps remain in place, the problems we face in educational funding across the state will only get worse. If the QEO is abolished, along with revenue caps, you can be sure as the day is long that taxes will be heading up and quickly.