New panel aims to pressure Doyle, lawmakers on transit funding

From an article by Steve Schultze of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

A renewed effort aimed at pressuring Gov. Jim Doyle and state legislators to agree to sales tax funding for transit in the greater Milwaukee area was launched Wednesday with a new panel of regional government and business leaders.

The Milwaukee County Committee on Long-Range Transportation Planning, with representatives from six southeastern Wisconsin counties, was named by Milwaukee County Board Chairman Lee Holloway to keep the sales tax idea alive this year, Holloway said.

Legislators included authority for a 0.065% sales tax for transit and public safety for Milwaukee County in the new state budget bill, but Doyle vetoed the provision, saying he wanted a regional solution for transit.

Holloway has been harshly critical of Doyle for the veto, but the County Board chairman said Wednesday he's hoping for a local transit sales tax recommendation from the panel can be delivered to Doyle and legislators by September, for action in the fall session.

Posted in: Transit