Feb 15, 2008 3:35 pm US/Central
House Leader: Roads Bill Is One-Shot Deal
ST. PAUL (AP) ―
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The bill would raise the state gas tax by 7 1/2 cents for road and bridge construction, add a new metropolitan sales tax for transit lines and raise vehicle registration fees.
AP
Minnesota House leaders insisted Friday that a multibillion-dollar transportation bill speeding toward floor votes and a likely veto is the only road plan they'll consider this year.
The assessment from House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher and Majority Leader Tony Sertich adds pressure to Republican legislators deciding if they should break ranks with GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty. The bill could hit his desk late next week.
"One bill. No games," said Sertich, DFL-Chisholm
The $8.4 billion bill would raise the state gas tax by 7 1/2 cents for road and bridge construction, add a new metropolitan sales tax for transit lines and raise vehicle registration fees. Pawlenty is threatening a veto; Kelliher promised a quick override attempt.
It would take two-thirds votes in both chambers to override Pawlenty. Democrats have a veto-proof Senate majority but need to round up at least five Republican votes in the House to trump a veto.
The top Democrats say Republicans shouldn't hold out hope that a fallback bill will be crafted. They say the window for revisions closes with the final vote.
"A lot of talking has been done and now is the time for action," Kelliher said.
The Minneapolis DFLer said the bill's backers could reconsider a clause allowing for automatic future increases in the gas tax. She said other changes could be made to satisfy Republicans.
One of them is Rep. Dean Urdahl of Grove City.
"Right now, I just don't see that this bill is doable," he said.
Urdahl said he's not ruling out helping an override. He is also trying to guage what Pawlenty has in terms of a Plan B on transportation; he is due to meet Tuesday with a top Pawlenty aide.
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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