Minnesota Republican governor Tim Pawlenty struck down the transportation bill within hours of its passage last week because he opposed increases in the gas tax, sales tax and car registration fees. The gas tax would go up for the first time since 1988. The money would fuel a decade-long spurt of road-and-bridge construction and expand routes for bus and train riders.
If the bill fails to get 90 votes in the House, the veto stands. It got 89 votes on passage last week, with all but two Democrats opposing it and six Republicans crossing over to support it. The Senate can't act before the House, although the bill's standing is better there.
Republican Rep. Kathy Tinglestad of Andover said she was facing "probably the hardest decision of my career" as she entered the House chamber.
Another GOP member who voted for the bill, Rod Hamilton of Mountain Lake, said he just wanted it over with.
"I'm ready, I'm anxious. I'm eager," he said without tipping his hand on how he would go.
None of Pawlenty's 36 previous vetoes has been overturned.
When he blocked the bill Friday, Pawlenty called it "an overreaching, massive tax increase."
Rep. Dan Severson, R-Sauk Rapids, urged his colleagues to stand with Pawlenty.
"If you reach forward on this bill and you punch the green button," Severson said, "what you are saying to the taxpayers is, `I'm reaching deep into your pocket and pulling out all the green you got in your wallet and I'll leave you the change."'
By fall, the gas tax would climb a nickel, to 25 cents per gallon. It could go up an additional 3-1/2 cents to pay off road bonds, though those increases would be spread out over the next five years and eventually roll back as debt is satisfied.
People with new-model vehicles face higher registration fees for a longer period than they would under the current license tab schedule. State rental car fees would go from 3 percent to 5 percent.
And shoppers in the seven-county metropolitan area would see the sales tax rise by 0.25 percentage point, with the money raised through that tax going for mass transit projects.
The deadly Interstate 35W bridge collapse put fresh attention on Minnesota's infrastructure problems, so lawmakers put $600 million into the bill to fix the state's worst bridges.
Republican Party Chairman Ron Carey on Monday reminded GOP lawmakers who defect that they might not be endorsed for re-election.
"It's going to make every Republican pause before giving the endorsement to these representatives if they vote to override the governor's veto," Carey said.
What do you think?? Should the bill be passed with an veto override? What do you think about the threat that Republicans may not be endorsed by the party in the next election if they vote against the governor?
15 comments:
I think that if you are a republican representative you should vote that way, you got elected to represent the republican people in your state..so why not stand behind what you promised? I will not like paying more for gas than i already do, however,I would like to be alive next time i cross a bridge in Minnesota.
I agree with hannah when she says that the republican representative should vote in a way that represents the wants of the republican majority. However, it is the choice of the representative as to how he or she wants to vote. I know there is already a lot of tax money that is supposed to be used for infrastructure, but it isnt being used properly. This tax increase will give better roads and railways, its just a matter of people giving a few extra dollars every time they fill up their tank. I personally would rather spend a couple of extra dollars to have a nice road to drive on.
Spending a few extra dollars on a gas tax is not a bad idea. id rather pay a few extra cents on gas than have to ride in a car that cant go three feet without hittin a pothole or any other obstruction that could cause problems. Republican representatives should be able to vote to represtent their political parties views.
I agree with everyone on this Blog because they are not Stoooopid. I guess i don't like the fact that the taxes will go up but, People DO Need to drive.
I think that the republican representative should vote the way that represents what the republican majority. The party has opinions and should vote how he or she wants to... I already dont like the price of gas it gets hard to get to work in park rapids already . i dont unders stand why they cant tax other things that are deadly and fix the roads like that but i would also like to be alive the nexy time i cross any brigdes anywhere...
I would rather pay a few more dollars for tax. Gas is getting high but I would rather have a nice road to drive on than a bumpy one and cross a bridge that will not ever fall while i cross it. I dont like the fact that the gas tax will go up but people do need to drive.
I luckily don't have to pay for my own gas yet. When I start having to pay for my own gas in college, I will not appreciate paying more at the pump. I do think that we need to take a look at road and bridge construction. A bridge collapse could happen anywhere and that would be devastating. I think that republican representatives should be able to make their decision regardless of their party. They need to do what they think would be most beneficial to the people they are serving. I am glad that they are raising registration fees and rental car fees.
I think this is a wise investment of my money. The few cents add up but having a good transportation system is worth it. I believe you should represent the party you are in but also believe you should be able to vote on how you feel about an issue.
I don't really care what they do because i just want to get where i have to go without dying because a bridge will collapse or there are potholes all over the place. Yeah tax will go up but I guess it's a price to pay.
they need to tax any thing but gas
allmost every body in the world uses gas so if we raise it so hight that people acan afordit they are gong to into dedt
I dont like the fact about taxes going up, but if it will help repair roads, and bridges then go ahead and raise them. I agree with nader on how i would rather spend a couple extra dollars to have a nice road to drive on, rather than a crap road where you hit a pot hole every ten seconds. I also agree with megan on how the party needs to make their own decisions on what would benefit the people rather than their party
i would rather pay a little more tax then die driving down the road but they shouldnt tax gas thats stupid people need to drive no matter how high gas is.. they should just raise taxes on alcohol, cigarettes, and stupid crap like that!!
Gas prices are already way to high. Its really going to hurt the low income people. I think there are otherways to get money to repair the roads and bridges... When a person is representing a party, i think they should vote the same way thier party does.
timmy is looking out for the comman man. not the rich people everyone needs to have money to get to work and gas it getting to be expensive. and its hard to get to work if you cant even afford to buy gas its bs.
yah yah yah ......lets go go raise gas taxes...lets have less money to spend... i don't know about you people but i happen to pay for a small amount of fuel each month and that even hurts... gas prices are high enough..how about this screw education and use some of that money to build better bridges and roads.....haha sorry mrs berg..
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