Sen. Scott Dibble (DFL-Minneapolis)
A gas tax increase remains in Minnesota Senate Democrats’ plan as they made their latest negotiations offer to House Republicans Friday afternoon. Democrats are dropping their push for a gas tax increase at the wholesale level, however they retain a 12-cent gas tax increase at the pump — but Minneapolis Democrat Scott Dibble notes it would be phased-in over a three year cycle. License tab fee increases also remain in Senate Democrats’ proposal, plus a three-quarter-cent increase in the metro area sales tax for transit projects. Red Wing Republican Tim Kelly said about the offer, “We have gone through this a number of times to know where our sticking points are, and certainly the initial largest one on the gas tax is definitely one.” House Speaker Kurt Daudt said Thursday if a gas tax increase remains in Democrats’ proposal, it’s not a serious offer.