Walker would give back $810M for high-speed rail

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Republican candidate for governor Scott Walker says he's so opposed to high-speed rail that if he's elected, he'll give back every cent in federal funding earmarked for the project.

The $810 million for the rail line between Madison and Milwaukee comes from federal stimulus funds. Walker on Monday said even so, the state will be on the hook for $10 million each year in maintenance and other costs.

The Milwaukee County Executive has previously suggested using the funds to fix aging infrastructure, but the money can only be used for the rail project. So Walker says he'd give it all back.

Walker and former U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann are the leading GOP candidates for governor. Neumann also opposes high-speed rail. On the Democratic side of the race, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett supports the project.