You know the drill. The family’s budget is showing too much outgo with not enough income. What to do? The choices are pretty straight-forward: find additional money or rein-in spending by adjusting priorities. Most families are already working long hard hours to make ends meet; so the first option isn’t viable, which leaves only the second choice.

And, so, the belt-tightening begins, as priorities are assessed. Maybe the family has to curtail its entertainment budget, or maybe a car has to be sold, or perhaps the family vacation has to be downsized this year. Sure these are tough choices; but they’re the kind all of us make in real life. Unfortunately, our government doesn’t deal with real life.

Last week, the State Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee finished up its state-wide public forum tour, which gave Wisconsinites the opportunity to voice their opinions on Governor Doyle’s proposed budget.  And this year’s budget is a doozie! According to some reports, Governor Doyle’s $7.2 billion proposal increases spending by nearly $4 billion and ups taxes by almost $3 billion. Tax payers have a right, even an obligation, with those kinds of numbers to question the governor’s priorities!

One of the things both Republicans and Democrats on the Joint Finance Committee will be dealing with is the current $2 billion budget deficit facing our state. In the midst of this budget crisis, the governor is all about increasing spending. And some of the programs he’s looking to spend sizeable amounts of money on are simply bad priorities.

For instance, the creation of domestic partner health benefits for state employees, continued taxpayer funding for so-called family planning organizations, and increased funding for the Wisconsin family planning waver program are wrong priorities for our state anytime, but especially during a budget deficit.

I’ve mentioned the governor’s proposed domestic partner benefits for unmarried state employees. This is a measure that is estimated to cost upwards of $13 million. Despite the fact that the legislature is called on by the state’s constitution and statutes to present sexual relationships in the context of marriage as the preferred option for society, we are seeing a move to do just the opposite through this proposed domestic partner registry.

You see friends, the eligibility requirements for the program tell it all. You have two individuals one of whom is a state employee, the sex does not matter. They both have to be 18 years or older, and they have to been in what the law would deem a so-called ‘exclusive and caring’ relationship. If these requirements are fulfilled, they state will grant special recognition to their relationship and pay out health care and other benefits. That doesn’t sound like promoting marriage as the preferred manner when it comes to adult relationships. This is simply a wrong-headed priority.

We have also seen a request in this budget proposal to increase the amount of funding for the Wisconsin Family Planning Waiver program by nearly 2 million dollars. This is the program that allows children, both boys and girls, per this proposal, as young as 14 to receive so-called “family planning services” from places such as Planned Parenthood, without parental consent or even parental knowledge, I might add.

Advocates for the program argue the services are needed for low-income individuals, and as such, this program is only available to those who are at 160% of the poverty level. For minor children, parental income is not included. It’s hard to imagine anyone under 18 who wouldn’t be eligible for this program, since 160% of the 2007 poverty level for one person is $16,336. I don’t know many 14-17 year-olds who make that kind of money on their own!

All of this is in addition to the renewed budget request for $2 million annually from Wisconsin taxpayers for family planning organizations in general. Encouraging our kids to be sexually active under the guise of health care for the poor is an insane priority.

I encourage you to make your voice and priorities heard. You can do this by simply calling the state’s toll-free legislative hotline at 800-362-9472. Give the operator your name and address, and you will be able to leave a message for your elected officials. Let them know your opinions about the priorities of the proposed budget. As state Representative Frank Lasee has said, tax spenders will always make their voice heard when it comes to requesting funding. The question is, will you, the hardworking taxpayer, make your voice and priorities heard?

For Wisconsin Family Council, I’m Julaine Appling reminding you the Prophet Hosea said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”