Standalone Vote On Bucks Deal Growing More Likely, Nygren Says

A top Republican lawmaker says the chances of a Milwaukee Bucks arena deal being taken out of the state budget go up with each day negotiations continue.

Wisconsin’s GOP lawmakers had hoped to be nearly done with the budget by now, but they couldn’t agree a few big issues, including the Bucks. Marinette Republican Rep. John Nygren, who co-chairs the Legislature’s budget committee, said Republicans have yet to decide whether to keep a funding plan for a new Bucks facility in the budget or not.

“The likelihood of it being a separate vote every day that goes by is greater,” said Nygren.

Nygren told Wisconsin Public Television’s “Here and Now” that outstate legislators like him don’t have as much of a stake in what happens with the arena as Milwaukee Democrats. Democrats might vote for a standalone bill, while they won’t vote for the budget.

Democratic leaders have said they weren’t included in Bucks negotiations and won’t promise to vote for the arena package until they find out more details.