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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Bob Gunther (R)

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REP. GUNTHER FINDS GOOD NEWS IN GOVERNOR’S TRANSPORTATION BILL COMMENTS

Thursday, April 27, 2017

 

ST. PAUL – Recently Governor Mark Dayton announced he is likely to give in to Republican demands on transportation funding. This means he would drop his plan to raise gas taxes by a minimum of 16-cent per gallon and accept a GOP proposal that make a $6 billion dollar investment in statewide road and bridge needs over the next ten years without raising taxes.

 

State Representative Bob Gunther (R-Fairmont) said this is good news.

 

“The potholes are doing nothing but growing in size,” Gunther said. “He realizes that if we don’t do something soon, the repairs are going to cost a lot more money than they should. I’m glad he came to that decision and we stand ready to put a wonderful transportation bill on his desk.”

 

Gunther noted that the transportation funding proposal, as well as all spending areas within state government, are currently being debated in conference committees. Because there are differences between the House and Senate proposals, Gunther said a conference committee consisting of five representatives and five senators is called in order to create a compromise proposal that can be approved by both bodies.

 

As chairman of the Minnesota House Legacy Funding Finance Committee, Gunther is now serving on a conference committee that dedicates tax dollars to proposals dealing with clean water, outdoor heritage, timber, parks and trails, and arts programs.

 

“With all of the conference committees in full swing now, the goal is to come up with bills that the governor can sign so we don’t have to drag out budget negotiations,” Gunther concluded.