Lawmakers could skip Bucks deal altogether

Lawmakers are holding a high profile hearing today on a bill to have the public pay for half of the new Milwaukee Bucks building. Legislative Fiscal Bureau analyst Al Runde explained to lawmakers that the state isn’t obligated to take any action regarding a new arena, the existing Bradley Center or anything else about that area in Milwaukee if that’s the choice they want to make.

Republican legislative leaders said last week they would remove the proposal from the budget bill and seek to pass it as separate legislation with the help of Democratic votes. Whether or not that will happen is still in the wait and see mode.