The Republican speaker of the state Assembly says his members are considering passing a transportation budget with no new borrowing, a move that would halt or delay $1.3 billion worth of road projects.
Lawmakers have said they want to reduce the amount of bonding in Gov. Scott Walker’s transportation budget, but based on Walker’s comments, their options might be limited. The governor has taken a hardline stand against any increase in the gas tax or vehicle registration fee. So, speaking to reporters, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos floated a hardline stand of his own.
“I mean, if we’re not going to create any new revenues, maybe we don’t have any new bonding. So there’s a lot of options in the middle,” he said.
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The idea of no new transportation bonding would be unpopular with Wisconsin’s powerful road building lobby, though Walker himself proposed freezing borrowing for the state’s capital budget. It’s just the latest sign Republicans remain at odds over major pieces of the budget, although they still say they want it finished by the end of June.
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