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State Representative John Ward
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4333
For more information contact: Sandy Connolly 651-296-8877
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HOUSE PASSES BILL TO FIX ROADS AND BRIDGES Legislation will bring $1.2 million to Crow Wing County
ST. PAUL, MN –State Representative John Ward joined his colleagues in the House on both sides of the aisle in passing a comprehensive transportation bill on Saturday. The bill passed on a final vote of 83-46.
The bill appropriates over $4 billion into roads, highways, bridges and transit projects. Under this legislation, the city of Brainerd would get almost $120 thousand in new money; Crow Wing County would receive an additional $1.157 million.
"It's not so much what happens if we pass this bill that matters, as what will happen if we don't," said Ward." Our roads and bridges are in terrible shape - they threaten the well being of our families and the economic livelihood of our district.
This is not just a transportation bill, it is a public safety bill and an economic development bill."
The legislation eliminates the caps on the motor vehicle registration tax, increases license fees for new vehicles, and increases the gas tax, among other provisions. It also gives counties control over an additional half-cent vehicle sales-tax increase, to be determined in Greater Minnesota by a voter referendum.
"Almost 60% of the voters in my district indicated in a recent survey that they support a gas tax to improve our roads," said Ward. "Considering the support of my district, as well as the crumbling condition our roads are in and the value of arriving at our destinations safely, this vote felt like the responsible thing to do."
The bill passed on Saturday will increase the gas tax by five cents this year and another five cents next year. Minnesota's gas tax is currently at 20 cents per gallon, and has not been raised since 1988. Out of the 50 states, Minnesota ranks 40th with regard to the size of their gas tax. Wisconsin's gas tax is 51.3 cents, South Dakota and North Dakota have respective taxes of 42.4 and 41.4, and Iowans pay 40.4 cents per gallon.
According to Ward, a Minnesota resident who drives 11,000 miles a year, considered to be the average, will pay about $5 a month, or $60 a year more with this gas tax increase.
"I'm convinced the majority of Minnesotans would be willing to pay $60 a year for safer roads, myself included," said Ward. "That seems like a pretty reasonable price for getting to our destination safely."
Ward said that a report recently released by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) added to his conviction that this bill was necessary. According to the report, over 1/3 of Minnesota roads are too far gone to be fixed and nearly 1/5 of the bridges are deficient or obsolete. In addition, MnDOT said it will take $1.8 billion a year to address the numerous unmet construction and maintenance goals for our highways, roads and transit networks.
Another persuasive factor for Ward is that because the state has not adequately funded transportation, millions of dollars in 80 percent federal matching funds have been forfeited.
"Congressman James Oberstar, who chairs the U.S. Transportation Committee, told us recently that we could lose out on as much as $4.3 billion in federal funds through 2009," said Ward. "In order to get that, however, we need to ante up our 20 percent."
Finally, Ward said he also supported this legislation to help reduce rapidly increasing property taxes, which have been used by cities and counties to fund local transportation projects in light of missing state funds.
The bill will next move to Conference Committee, where a compromise will be reached with the Senate Transportation bill. The Governor has indicated he will veto it.
"We travel to work and school on our roads, visitors use them to travel to our lakes, and our businesses depend on them to transport their products," said Ward. "All of us benefit when our roads are safe".
If you have questions about the budget, you can contact Rep. Ward at (651) 296- 4333, or 1-800-683-4205, by mail at 533 State Office Building, 100 Martin Luther King Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155 or via e-mail at rep.john.ward@house.mn.
News Items
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- Assistant Majority Leader Rep. John Ward Sworn-In as Legislative Session Starts - (Posted: Jan 8 2013 2:39PM)
- Rep. John Ward Elected Assistant Majority Leader and Selected to Serve as Vice Chair of Capital Investment Committee - (Posted: 2012-12-19 00:00:00)
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