4.02.2006

Ellis/Kaufert Caught in Spin:

The state brought the problem on itself by transferring $427 million out of the transportation fund to help schools and filling part of that hole with bonds, Ellis said.

"It was probably, intellectually, the dumbest thing they've ever done," he said.


Rep. Dean Kaufert (R-Neenah) said that Doyle was the primary culprit for those raids.

"We took a few pennies out," Kaufert said. "The governor took the green stuff out."

Actually, Republican legislators signed off on more than half of the amount Doyle took from the transportation account.



and

Kaufert sits on the transportation needs committee and serves as co-chairman of the Joint Finance Committee. He said the focus of the new committee will be on finding ways to reduce costs, such as trimming environmental regulations for road construction. Lawmakers are reluctant to increase taxes and fees or back off from construction plans, he said.

"Everybody's going to want their share of the pie, so I don't see us doing less road building," he said.

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