Vos: Gov. Evers Brewers proposal "dead"

 

UPDATE 6:08 p.m.

MADISON Wis. (CBS 58) -- Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said Gov. Tony Evers' proposal to extend the Milwaukee Brewers lease to keep the team in the Brew City is likely "dead" and suggesting Republicans will craft their own plan.

"I imagine his plan as devised is dead but hopefully a different plan will be able to come forward," Vos told reporters at the Capitol Wednesday.

Evers proposed spending $290 million of the state's projected surplus to renovate American Family Field. In return, the team would extend their lease until 2043.

Last month, Vos struck a similar tone during an interview with CBS 58 and bashed Evers for not reaching out to Republicans. He did express a willingness to work across the aisle to find compromise just as lawmakers did back in 2015 with the Milwaukee Bucks.

"It sounds like will sit down in the Legislature, we'd like to involve our Democratic colleagues and will craft our own plan. Gov. Evers again, not being able to bring us together super disappointing."

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MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A group of community and business leaders are joining forces to support efforts to extend the Milwaukee Brewers' lease until 2043.

The "Home Crew Coalition" was launched to raise awareness about the economic benefits the team and American Family Field provides to Wisconsin "where it has generated an estimated $2.5 billion in statewide economic impact since opening in 2001," according to the groups press release.

Last month, Governor Tony Evers proposed spending $290 million to carry out renovations at American Family Field and in return, the team would extend their lease at the stadium by 13 years.

The money would come from the state's projected $7 billion surplus, under Evers' 2023-2025 biennium budget proposal.

Reaching an agreement is far from over. The Republican-controlled Legislature will have to work with Gov. Evers to strike a deal. Some lawmakers have expressed concerns that the Brewers shouldn't be handed a blank check after benefiting from a stadium sales tax that helped construct the ballpark.

State Sen. Howard Marklein, the Republican co-chair of the Joint Finance Committee, said he's heard mixed reviews in his district about using state surplus funds to extend the Brewers lease. 

"There's a really mixed bag of feedback. My district is a long way from Milwaukee," Marklein said last month. "It's just hard to convince a farmer in Fennimore this is going to be a great investment."

The coalition is comprised of nine members from across the state and will be chaired by Omar Shaikh, a Milwaukee area restaurateur and developer.

Shaikh said the group's goal is to recognize the massive economic impact the team has in the state and "to keep baseball here for the next generations to come."

"I think everyone is align that we need to keep the brewers here. So, obviously it's never an easy path, but I think most people understand how important they are." 

Shaikh said he looks forward to working with stakeholders and lawmakers to reach a bipartisan solution.