In 2006, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle announced a program called the Wisconsin Covenant.
Essentially, it’s an offer to all Wisconsin 8th graders to sign a contract promising to stay in school, get good grades, and stay out of trouble. If they can manage this, they’ll be assured a spot in a state university or community college, and a financial aid package (based on financial need, of course, which they already would receive in normal circumstances).
What’s the problem with that, you ask?
Only that it was an empty promise, because the governor never figured out how to fund the program.
Fast-forward to the 2009-2011 budget, where Doyle is attempting to insert a phantom $25 million line item to fund the Covenant program.
Only problem is that the money isn’t going to be spent on the program or even set aside, but just returned to the main account at the end of the 2011 budget.
What if the economy worsens, and other -necessary- budget items demand that share of the budget?
It’ll mean Republicans being painted as attempting to steal the money from “the children,” and you and I paying more in taxes to cover the governor’s convenient oversight.
