ST. PAUL, MN – Today, House Republicans passed a bill that pits needed funding for roads and bridges against needed funding for our schools, nursing homes, and communities across the state. HF 4437 would put a constitutional amendment on the ballot this fall asking voters to consider using auto sales tax revenue to permanently fund road and bridge construction. This amendment would add approximately $279 million a year for roads and bridges construction, but delivers no funds to statewide transit. Representative Frank Hornstein, DFL Transportation Lead (Minneapolis), released the following statement:
“Taking this funding from the state general fund every year would blow a gaping hole in our state budget and take money away from other vital needs like funding for schools, critical access hospitals, drinking water and sewer infrastructure, veterans care and more.
“If this amendment passes, Minnesotans will still have crumbling, underfunded roads and bridges, but we’ll also have schools with over-crowded classrooms and underpaid teachers. We’ll have underfunded nursing homes. We’ll have colleges and universities with higher tuition and more student loan debt. Instead of a quick fix that doesn’t fully fund statewide transportation, we should work together on a sustainable, long-term transportation plan.”
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