MADISON, Wis (WSAU-Wheeler News) Republican leaders of both houses met again late yesterday with key lawmakers to try-and-resolve the party’s three-and-a-half week old impasse over the new state budget. During a break in the closed-door meeting, Assembly Republican finance member Dale Kooyenga of Brookfield said progress was being made. He told the A-P he was optimistic a deal could be reached soon. And it remains possible that the Joint Finance Committee could meet this week to finalize a budget that majority Republicans in both the Assembly and Senate could accept.
In the meantime, Assembly Republicans solidified their stance on which highway projects should be cut. A majority of the house G-O-P caucus — 33 members — signed a letter yesterday demanding that cuts be made evenly throughout the state. Governor Scott Walker and Senate Republicans want Milwaukee’s Zoo freeway interchange project to keep going without delays, but those who signed the letter said safe-and-reliable transportation is a concern throughout Wisconsin, and not just in Milwaukee.
Walker’s office has said lawmakers should leave it to the D-O-T to determine which projects should be delayed in a likely cut in highway borrowing. The governor’s office repeated that stance yesterday.