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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Carolyn Laine (DFL)

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Real Transportation Solutions

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Dear Neighbors,

We drive to work, to the doctor, to stores, to the lakes, to visit relatives. We have a wonderful system of roads and bridges that allow us to travel easily.

But our transportation infrastructure is aging. We have bipartisan agreement that Minnesota needs to invest several billion dollars over the next ten years to maintain and improve our transportation system.

I believe we need funding for this that is sustainable and long-term by being a dedicated source of revenue, a source that is dependable and based on user fees – so that those who use it pay for it. We already have this constitutionally-dedicated source of revenue that may not be diverted for any other use than roads and bridges. If we raised it by 15 cents, it would cost the average driver their fair share of $72 per year, or $6 per month. Much cheaper than car repairs from crumbling roads!

This user-paid source of funding is both more honest and reliable than borrowing and shifting money from the general fund, taking it from schools and health care. Let’s not hurt the education of our children nor dismantle our model MinnesotaCare health program.

There is no free lunch, but we do get to choose how we pay for it.

 

Thank you for letting me server our community,

Carolyn