Monday marks four weeks to the end of the 2016 legislative session and Governor Mark Dayton says he vacillates “between being cautiously optimistic and hopelessly pessimistic.” Dayton and Republicans differ significantly on how to use the state’s 900-million-dollar budget surplus, how large a bonding bill for state public works projects should be, and how to pay for improvements to the state’s roads and bridges.
House Republicans want a “significant” portion of the bonding bill for roads and bridges — which Democrats say doesn’t leave enough for other important projects. And Republicans want money from the General Fund for transportation — which Democrats warn takes from education and other areas. Republicans say “no way” to Democrats’ call for a gas tax increase.