It was a disappointing, but all too predictable, start to the state budget writing process last week. The Joint Committee on Finance began by tossing the governor’s $120 billion budget proposal – choosing instead to use the current budget as its starting point. The current $100 billion budget. In other words, they don’t plan to cut anything. Current spending is now locked in – and throughout the executive hearings this month, committee members will just be adding to the pile. How much more do they plan to spend? Well, that will depend on the new tax revenue estimates that are scheduled to come out this Thursday. Sen. Marklein wants to increase spending on public education and healthcare. He says the estimates will determine how high they can go. It would have been nice to see the committee start the budget at $0 and make every agency and program justify all its funding. Instead, it’s just business as usual in Madison, and no one can say they’re very surprised.