Assembly chambers (Photo: Jackie Johnson)
More than half of the Republicans in the state Assembly want cuts in transportation spending shared equally across the state.
Republican leaders have been trying to work out a budget deal that could see transportation spending in the next state budget cut by at least $800 million. There’s some disagreement over how those reductions will impact projects though, with many lawmakers pushing to protect mega-projects in southeastern Wisconsin.
In a letter to Republican leadership, 33 state Assembly Republicans argue that any project cuts should have a shared and equal impact statewide. The lawmakers, which include GOP members of the budget-writing Joint Finance Committee, says protecting projects like Milwaukee’s Zoo Interchange from cuts or delays would disproportionately affect constituents and taxpayers outside of the Milwaukee area.
Lawmakers have until next Tuesday to reach an agreement on the budget, before the current fiscal year ends.