Rep. Pat Garofalo (R-Farmington)
Republicans and Democrats have resumed their debate over funding for broadband Internet in Greater Minnesota with just over a month to the start of the legislative session. A special task force recommends 200 million dollars and Governor Mark Dayton wants 100 million. But a key Republican, Farmington Representative Pat Garofalo warns “the cost is sometimes over four thousand dollars per hookup in subsidies, and that’s just not sustainable for expanding broadband across our state.” Garofalo adds the federal government is already putting hundreds of millions of dollars into broadband in Minnesota over the next couple years. House D-F-L Leader Paul Thissen says last session Republicans ignored broadband as a critical priority for Minnesota’s future but many are now changing their tune.