Walker Begs Trump for Help on Infrastructure Print
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Written by Democratic Party of Wisconsin, Melanie Conklin   
Monday, 12 February 2018 14:59

trump-walkerMeets with President Donald Trump at the White House Monday to plead for federal help to repair Wisconsin’s crumbling roads and bridges after his years of neglect.


MADISON - Gov. Scott Walker will meet with President Donald Trump at the White House today to plead for federal help to repair Wisconsin’s crumbling roads and bridges.

The threat of a tough election has Walker in a panic and groveling for Trump’s assistance after neglecting Wisconsin’s infrastructure crisis for years. Walker has every right to be scared, too. On his watch, Wisconsin’s roads have become the 2nd worst in the nation.

martha-laning“Scott Walker and his Republican Party have controlled Wisconsin government for seven years, and in that time our roads have crumbled,” said Martha Laning, chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. “Wisconsinites deserve better than Walker’s desperate, election-year stunts. We need long-term infrastructure solutions and it’s clear that Scott Walker has none to offer."

The Obama Administration had offered Walker federal infrastructure funding in the past, but he turned it down to cater to national conservatives in advance of his run for president. These rejected funds include over $800 million for high-speed rail and over $20 million for broadband. Most significantly, Walker rejected bringing our tax dollars back home to Wisconsin to fund an expansion of BadgerCare, which cost the state over $1 billion. Those funds would have freed up tax revenue for rebuilding our crumbling roads and unstable bridges.

Walker’s recent flurry of misleading statements on transportation are further evidence of his panicked attempt to cover up a dreadful record on infrastructure in an election year. His claims that he spent more on transportation than Gov. Jim Doyle and that road repairs are ahead of schedule were both found to be misleading and mostly false by Politifact Wisconsin.

Unfortunately for Wisconsinites, we are stuck paying for Walker’s neglect. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, Wisconsinites spend an average of $637 a year on car repairs due to the abysmal quality of our roads. That is a price Walker is willing to make you pay and his Department of Transportation declares that “if your car is damaged due to a pothole... the state or county is not liable for your damage.”

“The sad result of Walker’s infrastructure neglect is that Wisconsin car owners are forced to shell out hundreds of dollars a year in repairs,” added Laning. “Walker’s failed leadership has cost Wisconsinites dearly. This November, it’s time to elect someone who will rebuild Wisconsin rather than kick the can down the road to fund tax breaks for the wealthy. Wisconsin can’t afford another four years of Walker’s neglect.”

Last Updated on Wednesday, 14 February 2018 15:12