Gov. Scott Walker’s plan to repair the state budget makes only modest cuts in state spending because it focuses on public workers — a fraction of the state’s direct spending.

But the proposal focusing on the current year sets up much bigger — and potentially controversial — cuts in spending down the road in the two biggest parts of the state budget: aid to local governments and health programs for the poor. Those cuts should be outlined as part of Walker’s 2011–13 budget that will be unveiled Tuesday as part of the GOP governor’s afternoon budget address.

Walker and GOP legislative leaders had sought to pass the budget repair bill before he gave the larger budget speech and even delayed it for a week to allow for more time. But Democratic senators have blocked passage by remaining in Illinois, leaving Walker and his GOP allies in the Legislature to deal with both proposals at the same time.

Meanwhile, Walker said Democrats need to return by Tuesday and pass the repair bill or time would run out on a deal to delay payment of $165 million in state debt to solve the budget problems this year and avoid up to 1,500 layoffs. Democrats denied that, offering a different plan that they said would avoid layoffs.

“Now they have one day to return to work before the state loses out on the chance to refinance debt, saving taxpayers $165 million this fiscal year,” Walker spokesman Cullen Werwie said. “Failure to return to work and cast their votes will lead to more painful and aggressive spending cuts in the very near future.”

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