MADISON, Wis. Motor carriers in Wisconsin are being urged to contact their state legislators and ask them to stop Gov. Jim Doyle from using state transportation money to pay for nonroad projects.

The Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association, which operates the Wisconsin Motor Coach Association, is encouraging members to call their legislators and tell them to "stop raiding the transportation fund."

Last month, in response to a projected shortfall in the state budget, Gov. Doyle proposed transferring another $243 million from the state transportation fund to the general fund.

Since taking office in 2003, Doyle has transferred a total of $1.1 billion from the transportation fund to help pay for schools and other nontransportation programs.

When calling or writing legislators to oppose transferring transportation money, the association said the following points should be emphasized:

Wisconsins diesel fuel tax rate of 32.9 cents per gallon is one of the highest in the nation. (See chart on this page.)

With a 30 percent increase in annual registration fees recently approved by the legislature, Wisconsin's fees are among the highest in the U.S.

With the price of diesel fuel approaching $4 per gallon and no let-up in sight, many carriers are struggling financially.

Tom Howells, president of the Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association, said his members are extremely frustrated. "We have one of the highest fuel taxes in the country. The price of diesel fuel is rising. Then the legislature raises truck registration fees by 30 percent.

"Now the governor proposes additional raids on the transportation fund. Why did they raise the registration fees by as much as $600 per truck when they just turn around and spend the money on something besides transportation?" Howells asked.

Wisconsin operators can contact their legislators by calling the legislative hotline at (800) 362-9472. Legislators also can be found by going to waml.legis.state.wi.us/.

The following state leaders also should be contacted:

Gov. Jim Doyle: (608) 266-1212

Speaker of the Assembly Mike Huebsch: (608) 266-3387

Majority Leader of the State Senate Russ Decker: (608) 266-2502

Assembly Co-Chair, Finance Committee Kitty Rhoades: (608) 266-1526

Senate Co-Chair, Finance Committee Sen. Mark Miller: (608) 266-9170