By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
While much of the reaction around the state to the proposed biennial budget has been in response to cuts in education funding, State Assembly Speaker Robin Vos found himself answering mostly questions about a possible new Milwaukee Bucks arena Tuesday night.
Vos – whose father, Tom, is a member of the City of Burlington Common Council – visited the council during the Committee of the Whole meeting.
Robin Vos prefaced his statements by saying fellow Republican Gov. Scott Walker had prepared the budget.
“Everything that Gov. Walker has proposed is his idea and his alone,” he explained. Vos added that the Joint Finance Committee then gets the budget and makes changes.
“I’m working to make changes to make it better,” Vos said later in a telephone interview.
But while not much seems to be changing for municipalities, Vos dealt with a number of questions about the Bucks – and a proposed new arena for the team.
“The Bucks arena has become quite controversial,” Vos said. He added that, if the Bucks choose to leave, the state would be left with an arena that needs about $100 million in maintenance that has been deferred to keep the building functional for other users.
Vos said it makes better financial sense to get the team to stay, but didn’t want the state to be on the hook for the bonding of the arena. He is hopeful the bonding could be done at a local level.
He also said that the Joint Finance Committee is looking at making a change to the amount being spent, and hoped to have firm number by next week.
He also discussed how to increase transportation revenue. Vos said the state has bonded for its roadwork – almost as far as it can – and the state needs to look at alternative sources of revenue, which could include increasing vehicle registration costs and toll roads.
When asked, he also addressed the prevailing wage debate. Vos said there would be reforms, but not an elimination of the prevailing wage law.
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“Everything that Gov. Walker has proposed is his idea and his alone,” Look how quickly the rat leaves a sinking ship. Be care about bonding at the ‘local level’, remember the Miller Park Stadium tax. Burlington is considered local to Milwaukee for these types of tax increases. Increased fees on vehicle registration (hidden tax), toll roads (hidden tax). Keep increasing the fees but claim your lowering taxes.
Robin seems to be a yellow-belly chicken when it comes to the budget. No guts to stand up and support the Govenor. A political coward. He belongs in California with the rest of the liberal wimps!!!
This is not the same Voss who was talking tough on schools and school budgets six months ago. This shows you that even the ardent Walker supporters in Madison have their limits when faced with bad political judgement. The collective assault on teachers, schools, and education in general is not only ridiculous, it is a snow job to focus attention away from failing political tactics. Yes taxes are down but at what price. Now the state does not have enough revenue to maintain its infrastructure. Plus now we are facing another structural deficit. And who will pay the price? Us! Best take all that money you “saved’ on your taxes and put it in the bank because once we hit bottom (and we will) we will eventually have to bail these guys out and pay the price for bad fiscal decisions.