Rep. Dan Schoen (DFL-Cottage Grove)
House legislator joked that transportation funding stalemate would pass if roads were painted new hunting color “blaze pink”
The Minnesota House on Wednesday passed a bill that would allow hunters to wear “blaze pink” instead of blaze orange if they wish — but the continued transportation funding stalemate also popped up in the floor debate.
Cottage Grove Democrat Dan Schoen half-jokingly asked Republicans, what about a different color for road center-lines? Schoen said, “If we changed those white lines to blaze pink, do you think the GOP majority would get us a transportation package on this floor sooner than later?”
Governor Mark Dayton and House Republicans have made some steps toward each other in transportation negotiations over the past couple days, but the latest sticking-point is GOP lawmakers’ opposition to transit funding, particularly the proposed Southwest Light Rail Line in the Twin Cities. Senate Democratic Majority Leader Tom Bakk said Wednesday unless transit is in the package, “there’s not a path to get a transportation bill this year.”
Four days remain for the legislature to pass bills this session.