Business Group Calls for Tax Hike for Ailing Roads [POLL]

ST. PAUL (AP) - A coalition of businesses, labor groups and others is calling for a new statewide sales tax on gas to pay for road and bridge repairs.

The group calling itself Move MN proposed Thursday that the Legislature add a 6.5 percent sales tax on gas in addition to what's assessed per gallon. They say the change would mean a 14-cent increase per gallon based on recent cost averages. The group also would increase a general metropolitan-area sales tax by a half-percent for transit projects.

Move MN's proposal is similar to what Gov. Mark Dayton has suggested he'll recommend.

Funding infrastructure repairs is one of the biggest challenges facing state lawmakers this session. Republicans who control the state House say they want to pay for repairs without raising taxes.