ST. PAUL – On April 17, Minnesota House Democrats approved a comprehensive funding proposal that’s designed to fund Minnesota’s transportation needs for the next two years. Unfortunately, according to State Representative Paul Torkelson (R-Hanska), that plan would also force drivers to pay more.
“It’s just another example of misplaced priorities by the House majority,” Torkelson said. “We have billions of dollars to allocate before the end of the year thanks to a state budget surplus and federal aid, and yet House Democratic leadership still wants to raise transportation taxes and fees.”
Torkelson said the House majority proposal includes a $350 million gas tax increase, a billion-dollar light rail tax hike, and hundreds of millions in other fee increases, including an increase to registration and tab fee tax hikes, and an increase to the Motor Vehicle Sales tax.
“At a time when struggling families are just starting to get back on their feet due to the pandemic, the last thing state government should be doing is finding more ways to take more of their money,” Torkelson said.
Torkelson said the Minnesota Senate has shown no interest in raising any tax this session, and expects a compromise funding plan that addresses the need for transportation investments without raising taxes will be included in the bill when it returns to the House floor.