Rep. Alice Hausman (DFL-St. Paul)
It’s looking like Republicans’ and Democrats’ stalemate at the Minnesota Legislature over transportation funding could also affect a bonding package for state public works projects. House Speaker Kurt Daudt says Republicans want a bonding bill that’s heavy on transportation funding and it’s probably tough to pass one without it. Daudt says, “Please don’t read into my comments… that we’re holding a bonding bill hostage to get a transportation bill. Not at all, but we see it as integral because we want to see a fair amount of transportation dollars in the bonding bill.” Democrat Alice Hausman says Daudt has talked about 400 million dollars for transportation and a like amount for all the other projects — and Hausman says D-F-Lers wouldn’t support that, because there’s not enough money for projects that people want. Republicans need D-F-L votes to pass a bonding bill.