It's unprecedented but Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker vetoed the entire budget.  He claimed that the County Board was tax and spenders but he didn't just veto what they added into the budget.  It turns out that if he used his line item veto, he would have been exposed as heartless.

Para-transit, Parks and Public Safety are key items the board put back in the budget. 

If Walker had vetoed the boards para-transit change, he would have been exposed for his opposition to the disabled and trying to balance the budget on the backs of the disabled — many of which are some of the poorest members of our community.

Had Walker line item vetoed the parks funding, all fingers would be pointed to him the next time something adverse happened in the county parks.

If Walker vetoed public safety he would have every deputy, court reporter and judge in the courthouse against him.

Of the $8 million that the County Board restored to the budget $2 million was for courts, 2 million for the district attorney's office and $1 million was for the Sheriff's department.   About $1.8 million was for parks with the remainder going to human services (paratransit and AODA).

But probably one of Walker's most curious cuts was a $40000 cut to the countys Veteran's affairs department.  Walker waited until that department head was deployed to Iraq where he now serves.  $10000 was restored by the board.

Rather than veto any of the things that the board restored and find himself subject to public criticism and developing a reputation for heartlesness, Walker vetoed the entire budget. 

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UPDATE: The County Board overrode Walker's veto.