Wisconsin has a new Poet Laureate, and we speak with her and her predecessor about the importance of poetry in today’s society. We also learn what to look for in space this year, and explore the possibility of a gas tax hike in Wisconsin.
Featured in this Show
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State Lawmakers Debate How To Pay For Roadway Projects
Questions on how state officials will pay for transportation projects linger as Gov. Scott Walker and high-ranking Republicans have recently spoken out against increasing Wisconsin’s gas tax.
In November, Transportation Secretary Matt Gottlieb proposed a gas tax hike to raise $751 million over the next two years for roads funding. Even as gas prices fall below $2 per gallon in some parts of the state, that tax hike appears politically nonviable.
Walker said that he was not “keen” on raising gas taxes. His comments followed remarks made by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, who each said they doubted they had the votes for the hike.
Wisconsin Public Radio’s state capitol reporter Shawn Johnson, speaking on WPR’s “Central Time” on Monday, said it raises questions about how the governor will pay for one of his top priorities in the upcoming budget.
Johnson said Republicans largely stayed quiet after Gottlieb first proposed the hike. Now, they’re changing their tone, calling it everything but impossible. Johnson noted, however, that “they’re not getting terribly specific about what might replace it.”
Since ending the automatic indexing of the gas tax nearly a decade ago, Johnson said the state hasn’t really found a new way to pay for roads aside from relying on borrowing money or transferring money from the general fund. Lawmakers have called that strategy a short-term fix.
Other ideas that have been floated around include a new vehicle sales tax, scaling back the slate of roadway projects, and even tollways — although that’s highly unlikely given the federal laws involved, said Johnson.
“There are really no easy decisions here,” Johnson said.
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Gas Tax Hike Looks Politically Unlikely In Wisconsin
Wisconsin Transportation Secretary Matt Gottlieb proposed a gas tax hike in November to raise $751 million for roads funding. Even as gas prices fall below $2 per gallon in some parts of the state, that tax hike appears politically nonviable.
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What To Expect In The Skies In 2015
2014 was a record year for astronomy: we had a couple blood moons, we landed a spacecraft on a comet, and there were a couple meteor showers. The director of the planetarium at the Milwaukee Public Museum discusses what we can expect to see in the skies in 2015, and what you can see in the stars right now.
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Introducing The State's New Poet Laureate, And Saying Goodbye To Her Predecessor
Wisconsin has a new Poet Laureate. For the next two years, Kimberly Blaeser will hold the position, and she’ll discuss her plans for bringing poetry to the state’s residents, and why that’s important. The state’s former Poet Laureate, Max Garland, will also share some of his favorite experiences and memories from the past two years.
Episode Credits
- Rob Ferrett Host
- Shawn Johnson Guest
- Bob Bonadurer Guest
- Max Garland Guest
- Kimberly Blaeser Guest
- Galen Druke Producer
- Amanda Magnus Producer
- Chris Malina Producer
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