Senate passes transportation amendment

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – The Wisconsin Senate has approved a constitutional amendment that prevents lawmakers from diverting money from the state transportation fund to pay for other expenses.

The Republican-authored measure passed on a 25-8 vote Wednesday, and will go to voters for their consideration in the November 2014 election. It easily passed the Assembly last week.

Under the amendment, any money the state collects through the gas tax, fees imposed on driver’s licenses and titling vehicles must be deposited in the transportation fund. Once in the fund, the money could not be used for any program that isn’t run by the state Department of Transportation.

Former Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle raided $1.3 billion from the fund to pay for schools and other expenses.