Police officers and firefighters called on the Legislature Tuesday to address Wisconsin's road funding needs, saying poor road conditions are putting public safety at risk.
Their call comes two days before the Legislature's budget committee is scheduled to debate Gov. Tony Evers' road budget, which would increase taxes and fees to boost road funding by more than $600 million.
Speaking at a state Capitol news conference, representatives of the Wisconsin Troopers Association, the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin, the Badger State Sheriffs’ Association and the Wisconsin Professional Police Association said that they were not endorsing any specific plan for road funding, but they were calling on lawmakers to act.
"We stand here as a united group focused on public safety," said Mike DeGarmo, a lieutenant with the Racine Fire Department. "And we're asking the state Legislature to find some common-sense, sustainable solutions to transportation funding."