Republicans just hate, hate policy being adopted as part of a state budget bill. They've told us that repeatedly, whenever Gov. Jim Doyle has included any policy changes in his budget proposals.

But that was then. This is now.

The Republican majority in the Assembly has just produced its version of the budget and -- surprise! -- it's a cynical, hard-hearted, partisan document that is just chock full of policy changes.

My favorite policy change in the Journal Sentinel story:

ending the ability of residents to vote a straight party ticket

If you were a Republican these days, that would make a lot of sense.

At the rate their popularity is falling, the GOP may just want to think about eliminating party labels on the ballot altogether.

Nice try, but that, like most of the hairball budget the Assembly GOP hacked up is in no danger of becoming law, since Dems control the State Senate and the governor's office. Still, it's enlightening to see what the Rs really care about. There's a lot more fodder for Dems to use in 08 elections, when they should take control of the Assembly, too. This GOP budget just helps make that happen.

Administration Secretary Michael Morgan previewed the Dem message:

"It seems to me the Assembly Republicans have decided to side with big oil companies and big tobacco companies over working families," Morgan said.

The GOP budget would slash money for public schools and they university system, and force the layoffs of police and firefighters, while spending on pet "pork" projects in GOP districts.

This budget could truly be the GOP swan song as any kind of force in Wisconsin's Legislature for years to come.