Wisconsin legislative leaders announce transportation plan

(AP) — Republican leaders said Wednesday that they agreed on a plan to fund Wisconsin's road projects over the next two years, edging them closer to an elusive deal on a new state budget.

The finance committee had nearly finished revising Gov. Scott Walker's executive budget when work halted in late May as Republicans fought among themselves over three sticking points: road funding, money for a new Milwaukee Bucks arena and whether to repeal prevailing wage statutes that require the state and local government to pay construction workers minimum salaries on public projects.

Walker, a likely 2016 presidential candidate, included $1.3 billion in borrowing for roads and $222 million in borrowing for the new arena in his budget proposal.

A group of Republican lawmakers also have been pushing to include language in the budget wiping out the prevailing wage.

Republicans set up a task force to study road-funding shortfalls in 2012 but ended up scrapping the group's recommendations to raise the gas tax and vehicle registration fees.

Vos said the Assembly would take up a separate bill repealing the prevailing wage statutes on the same day it considers the budget, but said he hopes to amend the measure to eliminate the requirement only for local governments.