Here & Now

Gov. Scott Walker Releases Plan For Bucks Arena

SCOTT WALKER:
DOING NOTHING HAS A COST. THE COST IS AT LEAST $419 MILLION.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:
GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER SAYS IT’S WORTH THE COST FOR A NEW BUCKS ARENA. I’M FREDERICA FREYBERG. TONIGHT ON “HERE & NOW,” MORE ON THAT AND THE LATEST ON UNIVERSITY TENURE. THE SENATE SPONSOR OF A BILL THAT BANS ABORTIONS AFTER 20 WEEKS IS HERE. SO IS A BROOKFIELD OB-GYN WHO OPPOSES IT. FIRST THE FINANCE PLAN FOR A NEW BUCKS ARENA WOULD MAKE THE NBA FRANCHISE LIABLE FOR ANY COST OVERRUNS IN THE PROPOSED $500 MILLION FACILITY. THE PUBLIC SHARE OF THE PROJECT, FINANCING THAT INCLUDES A COMBINATION OF STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT BORROWING AND BONDS, WILL BE CAPPED AT $250 MILLION. GOVERNOR WALKER SAYS IT’S CHEAPER FOR THE STATE TO KEEP THEM RATHER THAN TO LET THE BUCKS’ FRANCHISE LEAVE MILWAUKEE.

SCOTT WALKER:
FOR EVERY DOLLAR THE STATE INVESTS, IT IS $3 IN RETURN OF REVENUE WHEN YOU ADD BOTH THE EXISTING BASE AND THE NEW BASE.