I was one of four Republicans in the Senate and seven in the House of Representatives who voted for the omnibus transportation finance bill. It passed the Senate 47-17 and the House 90-43. Gov. Pawlenty vetoed the bill. An override of the veto failed in the House by seven votes. The reasons for my support of this bill are as follows: Experts estimate we need an extra $1.8 billion per year for 10 years to catch up on our transportation needs. The bill provided 44 percent of this amount or $800 million per year on average for 10 years. Although less than what is needed, the bill was a step in the right direction. The so-called “lights on” transportation bill that later was passed and signed by the Governor provided no new money. It has been 19 years (1988) since we raised the gas tax from 18 to 20 cents per gallon. Inflation has decreased its purchasing power to about 12 cents per gallon. Since 1988, the price paid by citizens for their cars, trucks, vehicle maintenance, fuel, insurance, and parking fees have in most cases doubled. It is only reasonable to also expect the Government to need more transportation revenue to pay for road construction, maintenance, purchase of right of way, and meet other transit and transportation expenses that have also, in most cases, doubled in cost since 1988. The bill included a 5-cent gas tax increase which would help fund county, city, and township roads and bridges. This helps prevent local property tax increases. The bill increased transportation revenue in a way that would have made Minnesota potentially eligible for hundreds of millions of additional federal matching dollars (20 percent state dollars matches 80 percent federal dollars). Without the increase, this money goes to other states. Minnesota already ranks almost dead last (49th) in the amount of federal money it gets back for all purposes. The added transportation investment is needed to decrease congestion, to increase economic development, and to make our roads safer. The bill was actively supported by The Association of Minnesota Counties, The League of Minnesota Cities, The Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, The Minnesota Association of Townships, plus at least forty other organizations representing business, labor, transportation, agriculture, the environment, and other interests. Agriculture groups on public record supporting this bill include The Minnesota Corn Growers Association, The Minnesota Soybean Growers Association, The Minnesota Wheat Growers Association, The Minnesota Pork Producers Association, and several others. The bill was also actively supported by county and city leaders from my district, including Meeker, McLeod, and Wright counties, and the cities of Glencoe, Hutchinson, Silver Lake, Watkins, and others. Sen. Steve Dille (R-Dassel)
