I wrote a column for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that ran today.  It pretty much follows up on my WPRI report of a couple weeks ago that shows both parties are to blame for the budget deficit:

At the beginning of every legislative session, both political parties vow that they finally will begin to work together. They sense that voters want them to get things done, and they pledge a new spirit of bipartisanship. Of course, their actual commitment to bipartisanship disappears quicker than a bag of marijuana near Michael Phelps, and gridlock inevitably settles in.

But for those who view bipartisanship as an end in itself, there’s good news. Every session, there is one issue on which both parties can agree and have proudly joined hands. Unfortunately for taxpayers, the issue that brings Wisconsin Democrats and Republicans together is their love of terrible budgeting. The way our Legislature and governor budget, we shouldn’t be surprised if they use “Cash 4 Gold” to bail them out of the horrendous budget deficit they created.

I believe my column was intended to counter this column that argues we should be spending more during a recession.  Apparently, that argument is so complex, it took seven people to write the pro-taxing and spending editorial.  I have occasionally been told I smell as strong as seven people, but I have never had to argue against that many at once.

Next, I will challenge all seven to a break dancing competition.

UPDATE: The fan mail is pouring in:

I wish to voice my disappointment at your ‘snarky’ first paragraph in the February 15th Crossroads section of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The headline of the article looked intriguing, so I started reading. However, I was shocked and disappointed at the low blow you leveled at Michael Phelps. Maybe you thought you were being timely and funny, but I found it distasteful and stopped reading your article. Whatever value your article had was lost with your opening paragraph. I hope you show a higher level of class in successive articles.