State House Democrats are moving ahead with a broad-ranging 1.5-billion-dollar bonding package for state public works projects — somewhat larger than Governor Tim Walz’s request — but Republicans in the Minnesota Senate aren’t interested this year. Majority Leader Paul Gazelka says he *is* open to a smaller bonding bill specifically for road and bridge projects. “Would not be the large, billion-plus bonding bills they’re talking about,” Gazelka says. “I’m just saying that roads and bridges could be prioritized in bonding.”
Governor Walz and Democrats are instead pushing for a gas tax increase which they say is necessary to raise sufficient funds to repair and upgrade Minnesota’s transportation infrastructure.