First votes on Gov. Walker's budget coming this week

MADISON (AP) — The first votes on Gov. Scott Walker's two-year state budget will come this week, but the most difficult decisions likely won't be made until next month.

Lawmakers hope that new tax collection forecasts next month will be positive. If the forecasts are up, then more money can be spent to lessen the $300 million cut for the University of Wisconsin System and $127 million reduction in aid to public schools in the first year of the budget.

Republican legislative leaders have said their top priority is giving more money to public schools. But they've also pushed back against the size of the UW cut, changes to SeniorCare and other provisions in Walker's budget.

The Legislature's Joint Finance Committee meets Wednesday to start taking votes. It's controlled 10-4 by Republicans.