House Speaker Kurt Daudt (file photo)
Governor Mark Dayton rolls out his bonding proposal for state public works projects this morning and says it will be “robust.” Dayton and lawmakers couldn’t agree on a bonding bill last session. The governor wanted to spend a lot more than Republicans, plus GOP leaders wanted most of the bonding projects to be roads and bridges, while Dayton argued a gas tax increase is the only way to deal with the problem long-term. Republicans countered with a proposal with no tax increases that they said would address the state’s road and bridge problems. House Speaker Kurt Daudt says, “Minnesotans, particularly in Greater Minnesota, are very concerned about the road and bridge infrastructure, so it’s going to be a big priority of our caucus to try to get a long-term solution in place for roads and bridges, but it’s gonna be complicated.”
More detail from Speaker Daudt in this clip: