Right-wing GOP WI Gov. and inveterate over-spender on highways Scott Walker found a novel way to sell a major Interstate highway project as a merely, already-bloated $1.2 billion project - -
- - just allow the state transportation department to omit from the budgeting an integral piece - - an entire interchange - - that will add to the price tag another $550 million:
Buyer: Hey, the bottom line on the contract says $42, 000. I thought you said the price was $30,000.
Sales manager: Oh, you wanted one with an engine?
- - just allow the state transportation department to omit from the budgeting an integral piece - - an entire interchange - - that will add to the price tag another $550 million:
The agency earlier told lawmakers the price had swollen to $1.2 billion but in February 2015 stopped including in its estimate the cost of rebuilding the interchange where I-39 connects with the Beltline that runs along Madison's south side.
The nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau reported on Wednesday that that interchange would cost $550 million, bringing the total project cost to $1.75 billion.Angry car buyer to sales manager:
Buyer: Hey, the bottom line on the contract says $42, 000. I thought you said the price was $30,000.
Sales manager: Oh, you wanted one with an engine?