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BUDGET REPAIR BILL PUTS MILLIONS IN FEDERAL TRANSIT AIDS AT RISK
Grigsby, Bernard Schaber Act to Save Federal Transit Funding

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February 22,2011

The Grigsby-Bernard Schaber Act is an amendment to SS AB11, the state Budget Repair Bill.

The amendment would save the $46.6 million annually in Federal transit aides to Wisconsin transit programs that would otherwise be lost under the current Budget Repair Bill. Many transit systems stand to lose up to 50% of their funding. This unintended consequence affects urban and rural transit programs across the state.

This amendment is scheduled for introduction in the Assembly on February 23.

• Public transit is essential for working families – thousands could lose their jobs due to lack of transportation. Nearly 50% of transit riders depend on the bus to get to work.
• Transit is a lifeline.  Seniors, people with disabilities, students, and those with limited incomes depend on transit to connect to their communities; to get to work, school, medical care, and social activities. 
• Transit boosts economic growth.  Every $1 invested in public transit provides $3.61 in economic returns to the state.

More about the amendment:
Federal law requires the continuation of collective bargaining rights for employees in order to receive federal transit aid. Under the Walker bill to strip union rights, WI could lose $46.6 million in transit funding according to the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau. Under this amendment transit workers would keep key bargaining rights if the municipal employer would lose federal funding.

For more information:
Stand Up for Wisconsin Transit Face Book Page: http://tiny.cc/xyb2w

Federal transit aid gets mired in budget bill

This long standing state-federal-local relationship should not be threatened by lack of policy research, stakeholder input, or hasty legislative action. It’s time to slow down the process and look at the impacts thoughtfully.

This act will preserve vital transit programs across our state and Keep Wisconsin Working!