Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen Outlines Public Safety and Law Enforcement Concerns with the Proposed Budget

Van Hollen Participates with District Attorney Brad Schimel, Sheriff Daniel Trawicki, Prosecutors, Law Enforcement and Local Leaders in Waukesha Calling on the Legislature to Make Public Safety Its First Priority

WAUKESHA - Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen participated in a press conference in Waukesha this morning with Waukesha County District Attorney Brad Schimel, Sheriff Daniel Trawicki, and other prosecutors and law enforcement officials.

"Public safety is the first priority of any government. People expect to be safe in their homes, at their schools, and on their streets. Not only does law enforcement and public safety protect individual liberty, but without it, other government efforts cannot succeed," said Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen.

While Attorney General Van Hollen's letter was delivered to Joint Finance Co-Chairs Senator Mark Miller and Representative Mark Pocan and other members of the Legislature, the law enforcement officials in Waukesha called on them to make public safety their first priority when considering the budget.

The group, including the Attorney General, voiced concerns with specific proposals in the governor's budget including early release for convicted felons, a reduction in District Attorney's budgets and an across-the-board cut in shared revenues as the Doyle Budget grows government by nearly 8% in the first biennium.

"I think the Governor is sincere when he says this budget will not affect local law enforcement. That is simply just not the case," said Sheriff Daniel Trawicki. "It dramatically impacts local law enforcement.