I am happy that Sen. Dean Johnson and Senate Democrats fought the Republicans' metro-centered plan. I am very proud of the result of this conference committee, for my district and for the entire state. The road funding will be allocated according to existing formulas, while bridge funding will be allocated evenly throughout the state according to a Minnesota Department of Transportation priority list. Many of our most dangerous roads are the local gravel roads. We need to make a major effort to keep them in shape, for safety, for economic development and just for good common sense management of our infrastructure.
Increases are on top of current-law amounts.
The bill is expected to win approval in the Senate and then goes to Gov. Jesse Ventura's desk for signature. Winter said he expects the Governor will sign it. But if he does veto the bill, or line-item veto any part of it, I'll be the first one moving to override that veto. This is the transportation bill we've needed for ten years.