Speaker Robin Vos (WRN file photo)
How to pay for transportation projects stands as one of the final roadblocks to lawmakers wrapping up work on the state budget.
Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) said Wednesday his members remain concerned about the $1.3 billion in new borrowing proposed by Governor Scott Walker. “We think the level of bonding is way too high, and we want to see how we can work on reducing that,” the Rochester Republican said.
How to reduce that borrowing remains a point of contention though, with Vos even indicating they may even look at eliminating all of it. Vos told reporters Wednesday afternoon, “One of the things that we’ve talked about is, maybe there should be no new bonding…I mean, if we’re not going to create any new revenues, maybe we don’t have any new bonding.”
Such a move would essentially halt many road construction projects in the state and it’s possible lawmakers could look to halt some projects to just reduce the level borrowing. However, with Governor Scott Walker saying he will not support a budget that increases fees or taxes to pay for transportation, Vos said there are many options they have to look at as talks with Senate Republicans continue.