Protesters Blast Wisconsin's Refusal of Rail Money

Protesters in Wisconsin are trying to reverse governor-elect Scott Walker's opposition to stimulus-funding for high speed rail projects -- $810 million that the government would have paid the state.

December 16, 2010, 9am PST | Nate Berg

"Based on Walker's stand, the U.S. Department of Transportation last week withdrew an $810 million grant that would have paid for the 110-mph line connecting Milwaukee and Madison. The next day, Spanish-owned Talgo Inc. announced it would shut down its Milwaukee train manufacturing operations in 2012, leaving only a maintenance base for the two trains it is building for Amtrak's existing Milwaukee-to-Chicago Hiawatha line.

Speaking at a rally in the Milwaukee City Hall rotunda, Sheila Cochran, secretary-treasurer of the Milwaukee Area Labor Council, lambasted Walker's claim that the federal decision was a victory, saying, "I don't know how you declare victory when you turn back $810 million" that would have helped create thousands of jobs."

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barnett joined others in the city to condemn the refusal of funds.

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100 rally to protest Walker's rejection of rail money

Published on Monday, December 13, 2010 in Milwaukee Journal Sentinel