Frenzied week ahead in Madison as Joint Finance Committee works to finalize two-year spending plan

MADISON (AP) — A frenzied week of backroom deals, lobbying and votes on the Wisconsin state budget awaits as a legislative committee looks to finish its work on the two-year spending plan.

Many major decisions are still up in the air as the Joint Finance Committee meets for the final scheduled times Wednesday and Friday.

Among the unresolved issues for the Republican-controlled committee is whether to go along with Gov. Scott Walker's proposal to cut the University of Wisconsin by $300 million, borrow $1.3 billion for roads and freeze the popular stewardship program that protects land from development.

Talks are also continuing privately on a deal to pay for a new arena for the Milwaukee Bucks.

And some Republicans are pushing to include a repeal of the prevailing wage in the budget.