Status of Wisconsin budget depends on view

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Whether Wisconsin's state budget is truly balanced depends on the measure used to analyze it.

Gov. Scott Walker has touted for months that he and Republicans in control of the Legislature balanced the state budget through the normal measure of cash accounting.

But as the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Monday his administration also told the federal government last month that the budget is not balanced when using a different accounting method that takes into account pending expenses.

Under that method, known as "generally accepted accounting principles," the state has a deficit.

When using that measure, the state's budget has been in deficit for years including when Democrat Jim Doyle was governor.

Democrats accuse Walker of double speak.

Information from: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, http://www.jsonline.com.

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