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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Ben Lien (DFL)

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NEWS RELEASE: House GOP Transportation Plan Relies on Shifts

Monday, March 23, 2015
 
 
 
ST. PAUL— Today House Republicans unveiled their transportation proposal. They plan invests $7 billion in transportation over the next ten years.
 
The plan takes over $300 million per biennium from the general fund on an ongoing basis to fund our transportation system by directing existing revenue from sales tax on auto parts and rental vehicles to specific transportation accounts. These shifts make it more likely Minnesota will return to budget deficits.
 
“This proposal would put transportation needs at odds with other funding interests in the state budget like K-12 schools, senior and long-term care, higher education and property tax cuts,” said Rep. Ben Lien (DFL—Moorhead). We already have a dedicated source of transportation funding and taking money out of the General Fund to establish a new dedicated source makes no sense."
 
The GOP proposal includes $1.3 billion in trunk highway bonds in next 7 years and $1.05 billion in GO bonds and $200 million in one-time surplus dollars for a short-term infusion of cash for transportation projects. Republicans claim to achieve $1.2 billion in new money from “realigning” MnDOT resources, but do not specific how they would accomplish this.
 
"Something else to consider in the House GOP plan is whether we want to force Greater Minnesota to compete for transit dollars with the metropolitan area," said Rep. Lien.
 
 
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