http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/mining_wisconsin_senate_s5.jpgLegislative Republicans deal one-two punch to Wisconsin communities, budget deal will cost jobs and force more school cuts. Public hearings and protests have little impact.

MADISON - After retreating behind closed doors for the past five weeks, Republicans emerged today to announce nearly $500 million in cuts from needed road and bridge projects. This unprecedented cut threatens the safety and reliability of Wisconsin's transportation network and is estimated to cost the state more than 5,000 private sector jobs.

This latest self-inflicted budget crisis comes on the heels of new school funding projections that revealed more than half of all school districts in Wisconsin will see another cut in the upcoming school year. Democrats, parents and school advocates had warned of the potential fallout of underfunding Wisconsin's schools and urged Republican lawmakers to take additional measures to protect schools from another round of devastating cuts.

"I am disappointed, but not surprised, that Republicans squandered the past five weeks coming up with a plan to eliminate 5,000 good-paying Wisconsin jobs rather than finding ways to restore the historic funding cuts to our local schools," said Senate Democratic Leader Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse). "At some point, legislative Republicans will have to realize that what's best for Gov. Walker's presidential campaign isn't what's best for the families who call Wisconsin home."

"Families and businesses across Wisconsin rely on a safe and reliable transportation network for more than just getting from point A to point B," Shilling added. "For thousands of Wisconsin workers, this latest Republican cut is very real and very personal. My thoughts go out to those hardworking families who will lose their jobs as a result of this irresponsible and self-serving decision. With leadership like this, it's no wonder why Wisconsin is dead last in Midwest job creation, dead last in business start-ups and dead last in middle class growth."