Governor Scott Walker defends transportation spending plan

EDGERTON — Gov. Scott Walker is defending his administration's road-funding proposal.

The plan provides $65 million more for local governments and commits $605 million for county and state road maintenance efforts, about $70 million more than the last budget.

The plan also would authorize $500 million in borrowing and cut $447 million from state highway programs. That would translate to delays work on a number of major projects around the state, however, including Interstate 94 expansion south of Milwaukee.

Sen. Van Wanggaard, a Racine Republican, issued a news release Thursday complaining about the I-94 delay. Walker said during a news conference in Edgerton that the Department of Transportation had to prioritize and place safety and maintenance first.

Legislators will get a chance to rework the plan as part of the state budget.