Planned changes to budget

GREEN BAY - Republicans plan to bring some amendments to the budget, some in lines with the democrats proposals.

One amendment will make a big difference for highway workers. The budget had included a proposal that would have kept local governments from bidding on road projects costing more than $100,000. Private contractors would be able to bid on the work, but highway departments would not have a chance. It also would limit work departments could do for neighboring municipalities. Under the amendment, local road crews will have the opportunity to work on large road projects.

"For cites and villages, they'll have to bid the work like any other construction project manager and I think that's a compromise that's going to work for most of us," State Sen. Frank Lasee, R-DePere told FOX 11. "And I heard from our counties and their complaints. What I always do is put our taxpayers first. I think they should bid and find out who the best provider is and go with that bidder."

The school voucher program in Green Bay has been in and out of the budget during the last few weeks. Lawmakers say the expansion to Green Bay will be taken out of the state budget. The program would have given some families vouchers to send their students to private schools. Supporters say it gives lower-income families more options. Opponents say public education is already stretched thin.

"That's fantastic news," said Toni Lardinois, Green Bay Education Association president. "The impact that would have had in addition to all the other cuts to public education were just going to be devastating. So we're very happy to hear that right now it's take out."

"We see it as a great way of providing opportunity for families with modest income to be able to make the same kind of choices in terms of where they want their son or daughter to go to school as someone with more financial resources," said Joe Bound, Green Bay Diocese director of education.

Other amendments include a change that would take away proposed changes to the eminent domain law. The law would have made it harder for property owners to challenge the government taking land.

Under another amendment, the WiscNet program, which helps pay for broadband internet, will be allowed to continue using millions of dollars in federal money.

Also, proposed changes make transit workers exempt for the law limiting bargaining rights for public workers.