There are winners and losers in every budget.   In the version of the Wisconsin budget passed by the now notorious Joint Finance Committee, the losers are businesses and taxpayers.  The winners are certain special interest groups (including the teachers union and plaintiff's attorneys) and criminals.  In fact, one particular class of criminals will make out particularly well if the Democrats on the Joint Finance Committee get their way.

     Consider this budget to be a big, sloppy, wet kiss to arsonists. 

     As I've written about before, the Joint Finance Committee has decided to open up the doors of our State prisons and dump thousands of criminals back into our neighborhoods before the expiration of their sentences.  At the same time, they are trying to financially cripple the State of Wisconsin Department of Justice - basically because the current Attorney General is a Republican. 

     The effect of this pro-criminal budget will be to hamstring law enforcement in it's efforts to protect citizens from some of the most dangerous offenders imaginable.

     Don't believe me?  Here's a portion of a letter that was sent yesterday by the President of the Wisconsin Association of Arson Investigators, Donald Henning, to the State Assembly:

     " ... It has come to our attention that the Joint Finance Committee is recommending an additional 5% cut back assigned to the upcoming 2 year operating budget for the Wisconsin Department of Justice.  If this additional cutback is passed, it will result in certain layoffs for the Department of Jiustice.  Taking into account the current unfilled positions, an additional 80 people at the Department of Justice would need to be laid off.  Therefore, 16 people would be laid off from that group.  Currently there are 8 Special Agents assigned to the State Fire Marshal's Office.  If the 5% cutback is passed, it is estimated that 3 Special Agents from the State Fire Marshal's Office would be laid off.  That represents a 37.5% deccrease in State Fire Marshal personnel.

     The State Fire Marshal's Office is the only statewide agency with jurisdiction to investigate fire and explosions. ... .

     The Wisconsin Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators is against the decision to add the additional 5% budget cut to the Wisconsin Department of Justice.  ... This proposed cut will have a direct, negative impact on the safety of the citizens within the State of Wisconsin. ... In the interest of public safety, we ask that the Department of Justice be treated like other public safety entities and be exempt from the additional 5% cuts."

     I guess it's understandable that some Democrats on the Joint Finance Committee who represent low-crime areas would have no problem creating a pro-criminal budget.  I mean, chances are that attorney turned State Representative Gary Sherman of Port Wing (in extreme Northwest Wisconsin) isn't too concerned that the South Shore of Lake Superior is suddenly going to be overrun by firebugs and felons.

     What is truly stunning though is that Milwaukee Democrats on the Committee including race baiting Pedro Colon, "Screaming Lena" Taylor and former social worker Tamara Grigsby would sell out public safety in such an irresponsible fashion.  I guess they don't think Milwaukee has a crime problem.

     The new Wisconsin budget - a proposal that only an arsonist could love.