ST. PAUL – State Rep. Dale Lueck, R-Aitkin, said Monday he is disappointed the Senate derailed legislation the House passed Sunday that would have provided funding for numerous area projects.
Yet, he remains optimistic a fix could happen.
"We accomplished a lot of positive things this session, however I want to address what is in the headlines today with respect to a capital investment and transportation funding package," Lueck said. "The clock ran out and that area remains unfinished work. I remain cautiously optimistic that we will work through this bump in the road and deliver badly needed new funds for our roads and bridges, and capital investments in other elements of government infrastructure.
"The bottom line is the House overwhelmingly approved legislation that would provide more than $900 million in bonding projects and make a down payment on a 10-year plan for our roads and bridges, but the Senate screwed up in the final minutes after the House had adjourned. It doesn't make sense to let a discombobulated Senate get in the way of bonding money for the Cuyuna bike trail or roads and bridges in our area."