No gas tax increase — per the agreement hammered out by Republicans and Governor Tim Walz — when the legislature Friday night passed a transportation bill as lawmakers began to wrap up the state budget. Mazeppa Republican Steve Drazkowski objects to fee increases on Minnesotans. “Squeeze more money out of them, and we don’t have money for township roads and small cities in the bill,” he says.
Minneapolis Democrat Frank Hornstein responded, “We need more resources in order to maintain our current system and expand it.” Republicans argue it can be done without a gas tax increase.