House Dems Move To Scaled-Back Transportation Plan

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — House Democrats hoping for a big funding influx for transportation projects this year are moving to a scaled-back effort to raise money.

The House Transportation Finance Committee is expected to discuss on Friday a budget bill that would allow counties to impose a half-cent gas tax and a $10 annual fee on vehicles registered within their borders. Counties could use that revenue to fund infrastructure improvements.

Lawmakers scrapped the idea of a statewide gas tax after Gov. Mark Dayton shot down the idea this week.

Rep. Frank Hornstein, a Minneapolis Democrat, says he wishes a transportation budget would go farther. He calls the new proposal a good step to address counties' infrastructure needs.

Hornstein says he hasn't given up on a metropolitan area sales tax to fund new transit projects.

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