Local officials in southeastern Wisconsin want to extend commuter rail from Chicago to Milwaukee, but the Joint Finance Committee would have had to approve a hike in the car rental fee, from $2 to $13. State Sen. John Lehman of Racine, a committee member, noted locals are all on board with that. The Southeastern Regional Transit Authority wanted to use the money generated by the fee increase, to fund extension of Chicago's Metra service to downtown Milwaukee, with stops in Racine and Caledonia. The fee increase failed on an 8-to-8 party line vote by the budget writing committee. Racine Republican, Rep. Robin Vos, was among those voting no.
