House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, R-Marshall, motioned to suspend House rules to bring forth the just-introduced legislation that contains $1.7 billion in highway bonding and $250 million in one-time money.
by T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter
House Republicans Saturday afternoon (May 19) attempted to pass a late session transportation finance bill to avoid a possible "lights on" style bill.
House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, R-Marshall, motioned to suspend House rules to bring forth the just-introduced legislation that contains $1.7 billion in highway bonding and $250 million in one-time money.
On the House floor, Seifert argued Democrats have taken a take-it-or-leave-it attitude to transportation funding this session.
Rep. Mary Liz Holberg, R-Lakeville, said the new legislation, which contains no tax increases, would be unlikely to be vetoed by the governor.
It's not a perfect bill, Holberg said.
"(But) it's more than a lights on bill," she said.
Rep. Mary Liz Holberg, R-Lakeville, speaks on behalf of a House Republican transportation finance bill Saturday (May 19) afternoon on the House floor. The bill was tabled.
But House Transportation Finance Committee Chair Rep. Bernie Lieder, DFL-Crookston, criticized the bill for the use of one-time money - budget surplus dollars.
Lieder, in recent days, has spoken of having a "lights on" bill should the transportation finance bill vetoed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty not be overridden.
The veto bill contains a gas tax increase and other revenue raisers.
House Majority Leader Tony Sertich, DFL-Chisholm, took issue with Seifert's use of the term compromise in his floor remarks.
"Saying
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
