Activists to rally in favor of Wis. high-speed rail

MILWAUKEE -- Labor activists and supporters of high-speed rail are planning a rally in Milwaukee in favor of the imperiled project.

Several groups plan to rally Monday at noon at the manufacturing plant of train maker Talgo Inc.

The activists are upset that Republican Gov.-elect Scott Walker wants to scuttle the high-speed rail project that would link Madison and Milwaukee. They say his opposition would derail the state's economic recovery and threaten scores of jobs at the Talgo plant.

The federal stimulus bill allocated $810 million for the line but Walker says the state could be stuck having to pay the maintenance costs. He says he wants to use the money for other purposes or give it back.

The rally is sponsored in part by the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.