Doyle to unveil budget tonight

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Gov. Jim Doyle will submit his long-awaited state budget proposal to the Legislature tonight (Tuesday).

Among other things, it would force child-care providers to meet a new set of standards in order to receive state aid.

Doyle will try for a third time to approve a rating system for child-care centers statewide. And the head of the Senate Children and Families’ Committee, Sen. Bob Jauch, D-Poplar, says it will get a lot more support this time around.

That’s because the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel recently exposed numerous abuses in Wisconsin Shares, the $340 million program that gives child care to the working poor.

Besides the rating system, the governor is expected to announce other reforms to the program today.

Some would need legislative approval, while others – including a statewide hotline to report fraud – could take effect now.

Among other things, the changes would address the abuses uncovered by the Journal-Sentinel, including payments based on jobs and day-care facilities that don’t exist.

We’re not sure yet how the child care rating system would work. In his last budget, Doyle proposed more state aid for the best centers, and reductions in aid for the worst.

Rep. Tamara Grigsby, D-Milwaukee, expects Doyle to use federal economic stimulus money for the extra aid.

Tags: wisconsin news, doyle, budget, revealed, 17feb