As a recent WISC editorial pointed out, Wisconsin?s college students and communities, our schools and seniors are all watching and waiting for the legislature to pass a budget.

The document serves as the blueprint for everything from how much financial aid is available for UW students to how many dollars Madison will have to pay for new police officers.

The stakes are high. The impacts of the decisions that will be made are very real.

Speaker Huebsch and I are working to reconcile a great contrast of priorities.

Our differences include funding for the University of Wisconsin System?.the engine that drives Wisconsin?s economy.

We differ greatly on how much financial aid should be available to make sure students from middle class families can afford college. Neighborhoods in need of additional police and fire protection and parents with children in public schools ?.can?t afford the cuts some have considered. Our cities, counties, schools, and universities want this budget done; but they don?t want a budget that jeopardizes their ability to provide public services that contribute to Wisconsin?s high quality of life.

For their patience, they deserve a quality budget that invests in the shared priorities and values of the people of Wisconsin.