Governors discuss transportation at day two of conference

Leaders discuss transportation at 2nd day of National Governors Conference

Leaders discuss transportation at 2nd day of National Governors Conference

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The National Governor's Conference continued for a second day in Milwaukee as governors from across the country discussed commerce and economic development.

23 of the nation's governors heard from U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Fox on Saturday, August 3rd, in his first major policy address.

"The impact that I see of transportation is, being beyond just transportation and infrastructure, an economic issue," said Gov. Scott Walker. "We talked about manufacturing, the dairy industry and timber in the state, but even for things as simple as breweries -- getting a cold beer, not only in Milwaukee or Madison, but down in Chicago or Gary, Indiana -- is all dependent on a good transportation system."

Democratic Governor Pat Quinn of Illinois believes the governors can work together to pressure Washington to spend money improving roads, especially in the Midwest where the region's economy relies on the flow of goods and services through the Chicago-Milwaukee-Minneapolis corridor.

"There's no such thing as Republican roads or Democratic roads -- they're American roads. I really believe that and I really hope we can have our governors, in a bipartisan way, wake up, especially the U.S. House of Representatives, that we gotta get going here," said Gov. Quinn.

Governor Walker also used the opportunity to lobby for a long-sought-after road project in the state, pushing the federal government to turn U.S. Highway 41 into an Interstate.

The Governor's Conference wraps up on Sunday with a session on cybersecurity.