A Northwoods Democrat says she wonders about paying for an arena in Milwaukee with tax money while schools and roads in the north are underfunded.
State Senator Janet Bewley, whose district includes parts of Vilas, Iron and Price counties, says the state Senate's approval last week of nearly $400 million dollars to build a new Milwaukee Bucks arena shows questionable priorities....
"......a budget that leaves our schools in the background, cutting $250 million to our university system, including the UW-Extension. It does not give us the road aids that we need yet we are able to fund the Bucks stadium to the tune of $400 million..."
She says if the economy was better, it wouldn't be that big of a deal...
"....if we got our fair share of resources we send to Madison, I think the people of the north would love to see a new stadium for our basketball team. But things are not good for us economically up here..."
The funding passed the Senate 21-10, with several Democrats voting in favor. Three Republicans voted against the funding. The Assembly is expected to take up the matter in a few days where its outcome is uncertain.