ST. PAUL – Recently Minnesota House Democrats unveiled a transportation budget plan that contains more than $1.5 billion in tax and fee hikes over the next four years. State Representative Bjorn Olson (r-Elmore) disagrees with the tax-and-spend approach being pursued by the House majority.
“There is no reason to force drivers to pay more at the pump or to make it more costly to own a car,” Olson said. “Minnesota has a $1.6 billion budget surplus and billions of dollars in federal aid arriving through federal COVID relief. The state clearly does not need any more of your money.”
Olson said the proposal contains a $363 million gas tax increase, a $916 million sales tax increase to fund light rail and other transit, a $120 million Motor Vehicle Sales Tax increase, a $149 million registration tax increase, and a luxury vehicle registration tax increase. It also includes funding for passenger rail to Milwaukee/Chicago.
Olson also noted the House majority’s comprehensive transportation funding proposal included 9 provisions that had never been previously introduced.
“We can improve our road and bridge infrastructure with existing funds, and that’s exactly what our state should be doing,” Olson said.
In other news, Olson said the Minnesota House Rules Committee recently approved a bill that would increase the wages of state representatives. Olson, who serves on the committee, voted no.
“Do lawmakers really deserve a pay raise when the DFL majority has allowed the governor to do our jobs for us this entire session,” Olson wondered. “For me it was an easy no vote as Minnesotans send us here to solve problems, not to pad our wallets.”