An e-mail sent out by the Wisconsin Urban and Rural Transit Association reports strong rumblings that either the Governor or the Legislature will try to create budget language that moves transit funding out of the segregated Transportation Fund and into the General Fund. Republicans are also going to try to raid state sales taxes raised on automobile-related purchases and dedicate the revenue to roads. These changes would make transit much more vulnerable to cuts as it would be competing for funds with every other state program (except road funding), and the burden on the General Fund would grow significantly.
Madison Metro recieves $17.5 million or 36.2% of its funding from the state transit fund.
I thought one of Walker’s campaign promises was that he wasn’t going to raid the funds. He even mentioned that in his state of the state (as in raiding is evil, we won’t do that). Maybe we all misunderstood. Maybe he meant that raiding is evil therefore get rid of segregated funds?
I have come to believe that conservatives can only be trusted to act according to their principles when those principles provide an outcome that conforms to their cultural identity.
Gives some perspective to Walker’s “My way or the Highway” attitude. At least there will be plenty of highway..
Conservatives and “principles” should never be used in the same sentence. Unless, of course, we are contrasting ideas……..