County Board no place for Tea Party antics

With shadows of last month's brinksmanship over the federal debt ceiling, most of the self-identified conservative minority on the Dane County Board are threatening a routine financing resolution. As the County Controller pointed out, the county uses this procedure every year to cover its fall obligations. The resolution requires a 3/4 vote because it involves financing, which is why the minority is able to hold it up.

Why the controversy? According to the article and follow-up, board conservatives are looking for leverage over next year's budget and have seized upon this resolution as their opportunity.

What's at stake? Updated radios for first responders. Construction on University Avenue and other highways. Water management infrastructure. And county conservatives' favorite bugaboo, land conservation, which makes up less than 1/30 of the total amount.

Just as with Congress and the debt ceiling, this is money the board already voted to spend. It's simply irresponsible to jeopardize contracts and projects already underway. If board conservatives are that concerned about county borrowing and spending, let them run on it in the spring. This kind of Tea Party tactic has no place in Dane County.