In As local road projects begin, funding questions are ample, Tom Cherveny reports in the West Central Tribune:
DFL and Republican legislators remain divided over funding for transportation. The debate is focused on how to fund an increase in spending, and not whether an increase is needed, according to two of the leading outside interest groups following the debate.
Jim Pumarlo, with the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, said the organization is “encouraged’’ by work taking place in the Senate Transportation and Public Safety Committee.
Margaret Donahoe, with the Minnesota Transportation Alliance, also said she is “cautiously optimistic’’ about the possibility of progress.
“There may be a path to some kind of a deal,’’ she said of discussions between House and Senate members.
Pumarlo and Donahoe said they believe a transportation agreement will be part of a broader, or global, agreement in the Legislature including taxes and other major issues. They both said they do not anticipate any accord to emerge until the final days, if not hours, of the session.
Let's hope that agreement doesn't contain too many unpleasant backroom surprises. As we noted in Veteran political reporter anticipates same old closed door political horsetrading in #mnleg, Cherveny's Forum Communications colleague Don Davis reported:
While end-of-session negotiations are held behind closed doors, everyone knows political leaders deal one provision for another in unrelated areas as they try to come up with a deal. In preparing for such wide ranging negotiations, they keep all big bills open so they can wheel and deal as needed.
As an example, not a prediction, Democrats want to provide parental and family leave for all Minnesotans. Republicans strongly oppose it, but they might accept giving state employees a bit more parental leave flexibility. However, the GOP would need to give up something it wants, perhaps a tax cut aimed at businesses.
If a few dozen of such exchanges are made, negotiators can emerge sometime near May 23 and announce a global legislative deal to wrap up the session.
On the other hand, a $42 billion, two-year budget already is in place, so no government shutdown threat hangs over St. Paul. That means there is very little pressure on lawmakers to do much of anything. Thus, perhaps, nothing major will happen this legislative session.
Will this situation deliver a strong transportation bill that doesn't rely on gimmicks and double counted ghost funds? Stay tuned!
Photo: We may have to wait for the cows to come home at the end of session to know if funding is available for the roads they use.
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