Keep Bucks Arena Deal Out of
Budget |
Issue Should Be Taken Up as Separate Bill |
(Press release date: April 22, 2015) |
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Senator Steve Nass (R-Whitewater) is calling on Speaker Robin
Vos and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald to keep any
Milwaukee Bucks arena deal out of the 2015-17 Biennial State
Budget. As closed door talks continue on the level of state
taxpayer involvement for a $500 million downtown Milwaukee
arena, the public’s opposition continues to grow as evidenced by
the recent Marquette Law School poll results. |
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“The people of Wisconsin have a right to know how their elected
officials vote on this major issue. The only way to insure the
best deal possible for taxpayers is through a separate bill that
will pass or fall on the merits and the ability of each
legislator to vote their constituents’ will on public financing
for an arena,” Nass said. |
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Nass noted that placing the arena issue in the budget is a
political tactic to get a deal passed without having members
directly vote on public financing, since Republicans will
eventually pass the overall budget sometime in June. |
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“Placing the arena deal in the budget eliminates the public’s
ability to hold legislators accountable and allows most to claim
they didn’t support it. It’s quite possible that a majority of
legislators will claim opposition to the arena deal after budget
passage, but the taxpayers will be on the hook anyway,” Nass
said. |
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Nass reiterated his opposition to the plans currently under
consideration: (1) Governor Walker’s $220 million state bonding
plan; and, (2) $150 million state loan with undisclosed details
on how or who will pay back the loan. |
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“The City and County of Milwaukee have shown little interest in
direct funding for a new Bucks arena. If the citizens of the
city and county that will most benefit from a new arena can’t
support significant local funding, then why should I force my
constituents to pick up the tab through massive state
financing,” Nass said. |
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