Walker Pushing For Approval Of Transportation Fund Protection Amendment

Voters will be asked on Tuesday whether or not the state’s constitution should be amended to protect money in the transportation fund, a measure that Gov. Scott Walker is pushing for.

Money in the fund comes from taxes on things like cars, planes, and railroads. If the constitution is changed, it means the money could only be used for transportation projects.

Walker’s predecessor, Gov. Jim Doyle, used money from the fund for education and healthcare.

“All the people talked about potholes after this winter. They want that money to fix potholes. Jim Doyle raided that money, used it for other purposes,” said Walker, when speaking in Green Bay earlier this year.

Walker was in Green Bay at the time to visit an interstate bridge that had begun to sag in the winter.

“You saw how quickly we moved to fix the Leo Frigo bridge here in northeastern Wisconsin,” he said. “That’s because it’s a key … commerce link for manufacturing, for agriculture, for tourism, for retailers. And we think long term having a stable, steady reliable transportation fund is important to the state’s economy.”

Opponents to the amendment say it’s important to have the flexibility to use the fund for other purposes, especially in times of economic crisis. They also contend the ballot question is a favor to the highway lobby.