5-1-13 wisconsin budget-transportation

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Legislature's budget committee has adopted parts of the state Department of Transportation's plan to close a $63.5 million deficit in the state's roads fund.  The DOT's proposal would revise Gov. Scott Walker's executive budget to delay segments of Milwaukee-area freeway reconstruction, cut funding for highway projects and cut local road aids.  The Republican-controlled committee worked around the edges of the deficit Tuesday, adopting parts of DOT's plan that call for reducing funding for congestion mitigation and scaling back the state's contract with Amtrak to run a Milwaukee-to-Chicago passenger rail line to reflect cost re-estimates.  The committee also deleted budget provisions that would have added nearly 30 more State Patrol inspectors and safety investigators.  Committee leaders say they'll deal with the rest of the shortfall in the coming weeks.