A plan to bolster state aid to local governments, which mayors from Milwaukee to the smallest towns and villages have been clamoring for, moved a step closer to passage Thursday with no changes, despite a veto threat from Gov. Tony Evers. Bipartisan negotiations continued behind the scenes among Evers, lawmakers, local government representatives and others to make changes to the bill to get enough votes to clear the Legislature and be signed into law by Evers. But Republicans offered no changes before passing it out of committee on a party-line vote on Thursday. Republican Rep. Todd Novak of Dodgeville, chair of the committee, said Democrats, Evers and Milwaukee leaders are “working hard” with Republican lawmakers to reach a deal.
