Scott Walker says Wisconsin needs a break from 'massive new interchanges in Milwaukee'

MADISON - Gov. Scott Walker said Monday the state would put off the largest road projects in southeastern Wisconsin if he is re-elected next month, even as business leaders call for $1 billion of work on I-94 in the heart of Milwaukee.

“We’re not doing massive new interchanges in Milwaukee,” the GOP governor said on WISN-AM (1130). “We’re just not going to do them for a while. We needed to finish the work on the Marquette and then on the Zoo, but we need a break here.”

Also Monday, at a stop in Appleton, Walker said he opposed allowing undocumented immigrants to get driving permits, addressing an issue he avoided in Friday’s debate. His Democratic opponent, state Schools Superintendent Tony Evers, said in the debate he backed providing permits to those drivers.

“Until the federal law is changed, the State of Wisconsin should not be providing driver's licenses to people who are here in the country illegally,” Walker said Monday. “Tony Evers’ approach saying that we should is actually ignoring the law.

“Think about all the people who are marching towards this nation’s border. Tony Evers would say, 'I’ll give you free driver's licenses. I’ll give you licenses to come and work and operate vehicles here in the state of Wisconsin.' ”

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In the debate, Evers said allowing illegal immigrants to get driving permits would be good for workers and businesses and make the state’s roads safer.

“Undocumented folks are working hard at jobs all across the state of Wisconsin, paying taxes, paying into Social Security,” he said. “To me, it wins for the economy and it wins for the workers and it wins for the people of Wisconsin.”

Walker and Evers have clashed over road funding throughout the campaign, with Evers saying he would be willing to raise the gas tax to find more money for transportation. Walker has opposed raising taxes and said on WISN that a big influx of cash is not needed for roads.

His comments come as the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce lobbies for rebuilding I-94 between the Marquette and Zoo interchanges. Walker initially backed that project, which is expected to cost about $1 billion, but abandoned it last year.

He was not asked specifically about that project, but suggested he would not seek to revive it or ones like it.

“I think the drivers in this area would say we need a break in this area for sure,” Walker told conservative host Jay Weber and the audience at a town hall-style event.

RELATED:Wisconsin abandons I-94 east-west project in Milwaukee County for lack of funds

During the event, Walker touted the importance of protecting coverage for those with pre-existing conditions, even as he emphasized his opposition to the Affordable Care Act, widely known as Obamacare, which requires coverage for such people.

Walker said he had no regrets about his stance.

“Never retreat from doing the right thing,” he said. “In this case, we can protect people with pre-existing conditions in this state and not have to protect the failure that is Obamacare.”

In a statement, Evers renewed his call for withdrawing Wisconsin from a lawsuit authorized by Walker against Obamacare. Evers released a letter he said he would send to the attorney general if he is elected to get the state out of the federal lawsuit.

"I cannot continue to allow the use of taxpayer resources toward a lawsuit that could undermine the health security of the people of the state,” Evers said in his statement.

On WISN, Walker suggested the decision to make this his last campaign for governor was made by his wife, Tonette.

“I said my only limit is not legally a term limit; it’s a Tonette limit,” Walker said. “She said this is the third term, the final term, get the job done and then pass it on to a new generation of leadership.”

Patrick Marley reported from Madison for this story and Mica Soellner, of the USA TODAY Network-Wisconsin, reported from Appleton.