ST. PAUL – Republicans in the Minnesota legislature have brought forward a long-term funding plan that would address our state's road and bridge needs for the next ten years without raising taxes. State Representative Tony Cornish (R-Vernon Center) strongly supports the proposal.
"I've been against any gas tax increase because a large number of my constituents drive to the Metro Area every day for their jobs," Cornish said. "They've been praying for gas prices to decrease, and now that they finally have, the Governor wants drivers to pay more for gasoline. The idea doesn't make sense, especially since we've found a way to improve our roads and bridges without raising taxes."
Cornish said the Road and Bridge Act of 2015 would provide $7 billion to road and bridge projects over the next ten years, largely by redirecting roughly $3 billion in revenue from a number of currently collected taxes.
Under this proposal, the sales tax on auto parts, the Motor Vehicle Lease sales tax, the rental vehicle tax, and the sales tax on rental cars would be filtered into a newly created Transportation Stability Fund. From here, the money would be used to upgrade statewide roads and bridges, small city street projects, Greater Minnesota bus services, metro area capital improvements, and suburban county highways.
The Republican proposal would also utilize $1.3 billion in Trunk Highway bonds, $1.2 billion from realigning Minnesota Department of Transportation resources, $1.05 billion in General Obligation bonds, and $228 million in General Funds for our road and bridge needs.
Cornish noted many area towns would have access to the new Small Cities account within this proposal. As part of this initiative, $282 million would be available for street and road repair over the next ten years for communities that have less than 5,000 residents.
By contrast, Cornish said Governor Dayton's proposal includes no new revenue for small towns, but it would raise taxes and fees for transportation by $9 billion, including the controversial provision that would force drivers to pay a minimum of 16-cents per gallon more at the pump.
"Going forward, I'm confident in voting against any gas tax," Cornish said. "Republicans have a common sense road and bridge funding proposal in place that would not cost drivers a penny, which is exactly what Minnesotans have been asking for."