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Tepoorten should report the facts |
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TO THE EDITOR:
While Patrick Tepoorten may not personally agree with the Legislature’s recent investment in the state’s economy and safe roads and bridges, I would at least expect that he report the facts surrounding the bill. Unfortunately, he has engaged in irresponsible journalism by instead spreading mistruths about the transportation package. I would like to point out the facts.
Tepoorten misclassifies the bill entirely as a tax increase. It’s important to note that of this ten-year, $6.6 billion investment in the state’s transportation system, not all of the resources provided are the result of tax increases. For example, it includes a $1.8 billion trunk highway bonding program, $60 million in local road and bridge bonding and dedicates the existing sales tax paid on leased vehicles to transportation funding.
Further, this investment is spread over 10 years. Had he done some research, he would have found that the enactment of the state sales tax, the “Minnesota Miracle” in the 1970’s, and Gov. Pawlenty’s “fee” increases, which totaled $934 million for the 2006-07 biennium alone, are all substantially larger tax increases.
Tepoorten drastically overestimates the impact of the gas tax increases on Minnesota families. The truth is that the average driver, driving 15,000 miles with a fuel economy of 22 miles per gallon, would spend about an additional $37 due to the increase in the gas tax. I don’t think that’s too much to ask for safe roads and bridges for our families.
Tepoorten also tries to diminish the local benefits provided in the bill. Here are the facts: with the passage of this bill, Chisago County will see an additional $15.8 million, or 18 percent increase, in funding over the next ten years for local road projects. North Branch will receive an extra $1.3 million for its city streets. These additional state funds will obviously improve the condition of our local roads and reduce the amount local governments need to ask taxpayers to contribute to local transportation projects.
I was proud to support this investment in transportation. By providing stable funding for our state’s roads and bridges, Minnesota will finally begin to move forward in terms of safety, project completion, economic development and property tax relief.
Rick Olseen
State Senator, District 17
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