Sen. Majority Ldr. Tom Bakk (DFL-Cook)
Senate Democrats releasing their state budget plan yesterday (Wed) has ratcheted up debate at the Minnesota Legislature over transportation funding. Republicans say they’re making transportation a priority using existing budget dollars, while Democrats continue pushing for a gas tax increase. Senate Minority Leader David Hann says Democrats don’t want to set budget priorities and instead propose raising taxes on everybody. Democratic Majority Leader Tom Bakk responds Republicans’ plan to take current budget dollars from other programs plus borrow bonding money won’t meet Minnesota’s road and bridge needs. Bakk says “it’s not a transportation plan to fix the infrastructure over the next 10 years.”