The $5-billion question on TABOR

Do you remember the Wisconsin Public Television debate in the 2002 governor's race, when the Democratic candidates were asked to solve the state budget deficit and offer specific numbers that added up to $3.2-billion, or whatever the deficit was thought to be at the time? (It turned out to be much worse.)

OK, I didn't think you'd remember. I barely do, and I had to be there.

But what brought it to mind was the study by a UW professor on what the effects of a Taxpayer Bill of Rights amendment would have been if it had passed 20 years ago.

There would be $5-billion less in the state budget this year, he concluded.

While that might sound like great news to the anti-government crowd, it poses a real question that supporters of the new amendment, called Bride of TABOR, should be forced to answer -- now, and, if they vote for it, on the campaign trail in the fall.

It's a simple, logical question: If you support TABOR, tell us which $5-billion you would cut out of today's budget. Let's deal with the reality, not the abstract.

Republicans like to complain about taxes, but they also like to spend money on programs that voters like, ala Tommy Thompson. I'll bet you won't find one of them who will answer the question.

Here's a story on the study, and the analysis itself.

UPDATE: Owen Robinson offers an answer.