The Minnesota Legislature this week acted
with leadership to make a significant investment in the state’s
transportation infrastructure by overriding the governor’s
veto of an important funding package for street and highway
construction and maintenance, as well as transit improvements.
Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty vetoed the legislation
Friday, less than 24 hours after receiving the bill from the
Legislature. The Democratic-controlled Legislature quickly
turned around and overrode that veto on Monday.
With the override, Minnesota will get $6.6
billion in new revenue for streets, highways, bridges and
transit. The plan will increase the state’s gas tax,
which hasn’t been raised in 20 years, by 5 cents in
2008 and by another 3 ½ cents in a future year. Transit
improvements around Minneapolis-St. Paul will be funded by
a new quarter-cent sales tax within the seven-county metro
area. There will also be a hike on new vehicle registrations,
which won’t affect existing vehicles.
Gov. Pawlenty is a staunch, anti-tax conservative
who is being considered as a potential Vice Presidential running
mate on the Republican ticket with Sen. John McCain. Gov.
Pawlenty vetoed another transportation funding bill last year
that the Legislature failed to override. Only 14 veto overrides
have occurred in Minnesota since 1939.
Meanwhile, Minneapolis-St. Paul was also the
site of the deadly Interstate 35W bridge collapse last year,
which prompted lawmakers to insert $600 million into the bill
to shore up the state’s worst bridges.
The business community was one of the greatest
advocates for the bill, particularly the influential Minnesota
Chamber of Commerce, which lobbied lawmakers for its approval.
While Minnesota’s Legislature has come
up with a solution for its transportation needs, Nevada must
come up with a solution that is right for the Silver State.
The Nevada Department of Transportation estimates the highway
funding shortfall is up to $6.3 billion, which translates
to an additional $450 million annually by 2016 to bond for
the state’s most needed projects.
The Legislative Commission’s Subcommittee
on Transportation Issues will begin evaluating potential new
revenue sources for transportation at its next two meetings,
according to Subcommittee Chairman Dennis Nolan, R-Las Vegas.
They are scheduled for April 15 and June 4.
Sincerely,
Nevada Highway Users Coalition
