MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Senate Republicans who two years ago spoke out loudly against more borrowing to pay for Wisconsin roads have shifted into reverse and now back a plan to issue $712 million in additional bonds to do just that.
That is a major sticking point in reaching a deal on passing a new Wisconsin budget that is already 19 days overdue.Assembly Speaker Robin Vos emerged from a 90-minute private meeting with Gov. Scott Walker and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald on Wednesday saying borrowing as much as Walker and Senate Republicans want "doesn't make any sense."
Senate Republicans used to agree.
Six Republican senators on the budget committee voted in November 2015 against $350 million in borrowing, calling it unsustainable. The borrowing was approved then on a 12-6 vote, with Assembly Republicans joining Democrats in support.