Gov. Walker promises $6.4 billion for transportation
MADISON—Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s executive budget will include about $500 million more for transportation projects ranging from rebuilding a badly congested Milwaukee interchange to filling State Patrol vacancies, his office said Friday.
Walker’s two-year spending plan will devote about $6.4 billion to transportation work, up from about $5.9 billion in the 2011-2013 budget, according to his office. The governor spent Friday traveling to news conferences in Pewaukee, Green Bay and Baraboo to announce the plan.
“We are investing in the long-term” Walker said in a statement. “An efficient, safe transportation system is necessary for growing our economy and creating jobs.”
The governor plans to generate the additional money in part by pulling $129 million form the state’s general fund. The state’s $419 million surplus will enable Walker to make that move, said Jocelyn Webster, Walker’s spokeswoman in Madison.
Another $32 million will come from the petroleum fund and $662 million will come from bonding.
Walker’s statement said the budget will devote $550 million toward rebuilding the Zoo Interchange in Milwaukee, the spot where interstates 94 and 894 intersect with U.S. Highway 45.
Other commitments include $236 million for work on Milwaukee’s Hoan Bridge; $10.7 million for grants to improve commercial harbors; $60 million for preserving railroad tracks; $55 million more for road maintenance; an additional $800,000 in disaster aid; and $2.7 million to train State Patrol recruits.
Walker is scheduled to release his full budget on Wednesday. The Legislature’s finance committee will revise the plan and send it on to the full state Senate and Assembly for approval. From there it will go back to Walker for his signature. The whole process is expected to take most of the spring.
Feb 16, 2013 at 9:59 p.m.
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We still have a 3 Billion structural deficit and he wants to borrow more? Not sure if this fits under stupid or crazy.
Feb 16, 2013 at 3:35 p.m.
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Good roads? have you driven around in the state? Not good roads here. From the party of small government? Wait wonder which construction company will get all this money? Michels? Wonder how much they gave Scotty in the camaign?http://thepoliticalenvironment.blogspot.com/2012/05/scott-walkers-jaw-dropping-recent-big.html
Theyll get some tasty contracts out of this for usure. Open for business.
Feb 16, 2013 at 10:53 a.m.
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It is good to know that we will have improved road systems by which we may join the hasty exodus from Wisconsin. Where will you be going?
Feb 16, 2013 at 10:51 a.m.
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Gov. Scott Walker is seeking to sell off hundreds of millions of dollars in power plants or other state assets to help pay some of the borrowing he is proposing as part of his two-year $6.4 billion transportation plan unveiled Friday.
The controversial move to sell the 37 power and heating plants - already being outlined to lawmakers - would, if it happened, help the Republican governor and the state keep on schedule with key Milwaukee area projects such as the Zoo Interchange and Hoan Bridge. The move could also have the unexpected effect of linking the prices paid by some utility customers to the financing of the state's road system.
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The plants include units that serve University of Wisconsin campuses in Milwaukee, Madison and elsewhere, state prisons and the Mendota Mental Health Institute in Madison. Here we go folks. Say goodbye to Wisconsin.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepoliti...
Feb 16, 2013 at 10:44 a.m.
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A look back at Scott Walker is Necessary to better understand him....
"Watch Scott Walker LIE For 5 Minutes to 4 MSNBC Reporters, About 2008 Auto Plant Closing"
http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/wat...
"Did Scott Walker LIE Under Oath To Congress"
http://www.thenation.com/blog/167881/did...
"20 LIES From Scott Walker"
http://boingboing.net/2011/03/06/20-lies...
"20 Of The Biggest LIES Told By WI Gov. Scott Walker"
http://www.alternet.org/story/150170/20_...
Feb 16, 2013 at 10:03 a.m.
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Bowlgal - Why do you think Democrats support debt. Not all Democrats support debt just like not all Republicans support debt. Here is a case where Walker supports debt. He should use the fake surplus to knock down debt if he was a true concervative. I didn't like the debt that the Republicans created when Bush was in office. Did you like all that debt that they created?
Feb 16, 2013 at 9:14 a.m.
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Bet a lot of that construction work would go to Union workers who are looking for work.
Feb 16, 2013 at 8:51 a.m.
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For a state with no money we sure found a lot of it
Feb 16, 2013 at 7:38 a.m.
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Mooshoo, a Democrat complaining about debt?
At least Walker can balance a budget and pay into the transportation fund already raided by Doyle.
Either Democrats here are not paying attention or don't care how bad Democrat policies are.
Or, most likely both.
Feb 16, 2013 at 7:28 a.m.
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Hey folks all this transportation spending is benefiting you and yet you complain. you use these roads and if no money was applied to these, just think what it would cost for car and truck repairs if the roads where in shambles. Yes you would complain that walker is not spending any money on roads. He can not win with you conservatives and liberals. lets just do away with a gov and let you folks run this state.
Feb 16, 2013 at 7:08 a.m.
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The transportation budget is already heavily subsidized, now this? I think we need a constitutional amendment to make the transportation fund support itself. Because contrary to popular opinion it doesn't. Now our ethically challenged guv is paying off his campaign donors. Can anyone say corruption?
Feb 16, 2013 at 6:29 a.m.
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He's trying to fix the transportation fund that Doyle hijacked. We had this discussion, remember?
Feb 16, 2013 at 5:32 a.m.
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Brace yourselves, that is a lot of spending. Walker won't tax to get the revenues. That leaves only one other way: start selling off our public owned assets at fire sale prices. Why do you think big business across the country was behind Walker? They knew their payday would be coming.
Feb 16, 2013 at 4:56 a.m.
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Well, that's ONE way to get jobs in Wisconsin.
Feb 15, 2013 at 10:12 p.m.
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Jobs ? Why is any state business being conducted by over seas call centers ?
Feb 15, 2013 at 9:55 p.m.
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"Gov. Walker promises $6.4 billion for transportation"
For some strange reason, I keep hearing Dionne Warwick singing, "Promises, promises,
I'm all through with promises, promises..."
Feb 15, 2013 at 9:11 p.m.
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Ah yes. More votes from the road builders.
Feb 15, 2013 at 8:47 p.m.
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windy is @ it again
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