Republican divide over Wisconsin road funding leaves Democrats holding the cards



MADISON -- Senate Republicans are objecting to Gov. Scott Walker's latest request to free up borrowed money for road projects, and their disagreement puts Democrats in a rare position of power.

Walker, speaking first to business leaders in Madison and later to reporters in the Fox Valley on Tuesday, October 20th, urged the Legislature's powerful budget-writing committee to release $350 million over two years for roadwork.

Road construction



"If we don`t have this money approved, projects have to be delayed," Walker said. "It's not a game we're playing. It's the simple math."

The borrowed money sits in the state's coffers but, according to the budget approved this summer, the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee must release the funding before it can be used.

As Walker made his request, the Senate Republican who co-chairs the budget-writing committee made her stance known.

"I`m sticking with my caucus," said Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills). "We said the bonding level is unsustainable. There has to be a long-term fix."

Mark Gottlieb, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation wrote a letter to Joint Finance Committee members Tuesday asking for $200 million now and $150 million more next year.

Without it, dozens of projects -- including some in southeastern Wisconsin -- would be delayed at least two years. With the funding, the delays would be one year, Gottlieb said.

While Senate Republicans appear to be opposed, Assembly Republicans on the committee are likely to vote in favor of Walker's request, said Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette), the committee's other co-chairman.

"We’re just more willing to solve the problem that’s in front of us today," Nygren told reporters Tuesday. "We understand we have long-term funding issues, but I don’t think that’s going to be solved in this session."

The divide means the four Democrats on the Joint Finance Committee may have the deciding votes. Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) said he expects his two members from the Assembly will vote 'yes.'

"We definitely feel we should move forward with (the projects) and, for the life of me, I can’t understand what the delay has been," he said.

Joint Finance Committee members and road funding



The two Senate Democrats also face a dilemma: help Walker, or further delay the projects.

Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton) slammed Governor Walker for putting lawmakers in this position, yet he remained noncommittal about his vote.

Road construction



"I want to see what the plan is. I want to see what the Republicans have to say about the plan, and I want to see it on paper, as opposed to just a letter from the (DOT) secretary," Erpenbach said.

Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) is the other lawmaker with a say.

"I’m not going to commit to voting yes or no before seeing the actual proposal," Taylor said in an emailed statement that also criticized Walker for creating the funding crisis.

Nygren said, if the votes are there, the Joint Finance Committee could meet within the next two weeks to decide the issue.