New Wis. governor remains opposed to high-speed rail line

By SCOTT BAUER, Associated Press

DANE, Wis. (AP) - Wisconsin Gov.-elect Scott Walker remained steadfast Tuesday in his opposition to a high-speed train line between Madison and Milwaukee, saying he doesn't see any scenario where he would change his mind and allow the project to move forward.

Even so, the Republican Walker said he would talk with U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood about the project and stress that the $810 million coming to Wisconsin for the train should be redirected and spent on repairing roads and bridges instead.

LaHood told Walker in a letter sent on Monday that wasn't possible. LaHood told Walker that unless he changed his mind, Wisconsin's project would "wind down."

Walker, speaking to reporters after making a campaign-style stop at a manufacturing company, said his rejection of the money would send a strong message to the Obama administration and Congress that the rail money should go to fixing interstates and bridges instead.

"Before they start pouring money into any rail line between Madison and Milwaukee or anywhere across the country, the federal government should be putting a higher priority on those roads and bridges and that's the case we're going to make to the secretary," Walker said.

Outgoing Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle asked Walker during a private meeting Monday to speak with LaHood about the project, Walker said. He did not say when the meeting would be.

Doyle, a staunch supporter of the rail line, said on Monday that he would leave it to Walker to decide whether to go ahead with the project. But canceling it would cost the state more than $14 million in money already spent and force it to come up with about $83 million to make improvements to the existing train line connecting Milwaukee and Chicago, Doyle said.

Doyle also said stopping the project would result in the immediate loss of more than 400 jobs. Building the roughly 80-mile train line was estimated to create about 5,500 jobs.

Walker, who ran on his promise to be a job creator, said Tuesday those weren't the type of jobs he was interested in.

"Because long-term the jobs we need are sustainable private sector jobs outside of government," Walker said. "This is a short term fix that will cost the taxpayers of our state millions into the future."

Walker objected to the estimated $7.5 million it would cost the state to operate the rail line, even though Doyle has said the federal government would likely pick up about 80 percent of that cost.

Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said he hoped Walker would change his mind if that cost could be taken away from the state.

But Walker remained firm Tuesday that he doesn't see any way he will back off his campaign promise to stop the train.

Other states are lining up to take Wisconsin's money should it be rejected. Both New York Gov.-elect Andrew Cuomo and Illinois Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig said their states would happily take the money for train projects in their states.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)