FREDERICA FREYBERG:

TUESDAY, THE STATE ASSEMBLY PASSED THE MEASURE ON A BIPARTISAN VOTE OF 52-34. UNDER THE BILL, TAXPAYERS WILL SPEND $250 MILLION, OR $400 MILLION WITH INTEREST OVER 20 YEARS. BUCKS OWNERS ARE CONTRIBUTING $250 MILLION. THE DEAL KEEPS THE BUCKS IN MILWAUKEE AND KICK STARTS A MAJOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECT AROUND THE ARENA. NO ONE ON THE ASSEMBLY FLOOR SPOKE IN OPPOSITION TO THE BILL, THOUGH THERE WERE MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES WHO REJECTED THE PLAN. GROUND IS EXPECTED TO BE BROKEN ON THE NEW ARENA IN THE FALL.

ROBIN VOS:

THE PROCESS THAT WE UTILIZED WAS GOOD AND HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE. AND I CANNOT THANK ENOUGH THE MINORITY LEADER AND THOSE FROM THE OTHER SIDE WHO ENGAGED IN GOOD FAITH, TOUGH, PRODUCTIVE NEGOTIATIONS TO GET A GOOD DEAL. AND WHILE WE COULD NOT PASS THIS WITH JUST REPUBLICAN VOTES TODAY, I WANT TO THANK THE DEMOCRATS FOR STEPPING UP AND DOING WHAT WAS RIGHT FOR WISCONSIN, PUTTING POLITICS ASIDE, LOOKING AT THE FACTS, AND SAYING HOW CAN WE WORK TO NOT ONLY GET THIS DEAL DONE, BUT MAKE IT THE VERY BEST TO PROTECT THE STATE, TO PROTECT THE TAXPAYERS AND ULTIMATELY, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

AND ONE OF THOSE OPPOSED TO THE BUCKS ARENA BILL IS REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE DEAN KNUDSON OF HUDSON. HE RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING, QUOTE, STATE TAXPAYERS SHOULD NOT BE SUBSIDIZING THE CONSTRUCTION OF PROFESSIONAL SPORTS FACILITIES. I AM OPPOSED TO ARENA SUBSIDIES IN GENERAL AND VOTED AGAINST THIS PLAN THAT HAD NO PUBLIC HEARING AND COMMITS THE STATE TO DECADES OF FURTHER ARENA SUPPORT. THE GOVERNOR IS EXPECTED TO SIGN THE BUCKS ARENA BILL IN THE COMING DAYS.