Friends and neighbors,
This week, the Senate passed its transportation budget proposal for this year. While I’m proud of the strong working relationship I’ve built with Senator Dibble, the Democrat who chairs the committee, and I appreciate the collaborative approach he brings, I can’t hide my frustration with some parts of the bill.
Minnesota’s roads and bridges are in rough shape. We’re facing a billion-dollar annual shortfall in basic transportation infrastructure needs. But instead of fixing that, this bill diverts more money away from road projects and into things like transit, climate initiatives, and bike lanes. That’s not what Minnesotans expect when they pay the gas tax. The fund we’re supposed to use for highways is being stretched thinner and thinner by these “leakages.” It is going to make our difficult position even worse in the years to come.
I’m also disappointed that the bill delays the full phase-in of the auto parts sales tax. Many of us worked hard for several years to get that done, and delaying is the wrong approach. That money should go directly to roads and bridges. And yet, again, the bill takes that money and spends it elsewhere. That’s another missed opportunity.
I voted for the bill so I could be part of the conference committee that will negotiate the final version. That gives me a seat at the table to push for more funding for roads and bridges, particularly in Greater Minnesota. Given my relationship with Senator Dibble, I am confident that we will come up with a final bill that looks far better than the one we passed this week.
Sincerely,