Senate Lines up Backup Transportation Funds Through Bonding

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Senate Democrats have a backup plan for transportation funding if negotiations don't pan out.

Those talks have been at a stalemate for months as Democrats and Republicans push drastically different plans to fund road and bridge repairs. Gov. Mark Dayton and fellow Democrats want to raise the gasoline tax to pay for a decade of funding. GOP lawmakers want to tap a budget surplus and shift existing funds.

The Senate earmarked $400 million for transportation in a public construction bill released Monday. Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk says that may be all the Legislature can do to fund transportation this year.

It's part of a larger, $1.8 billion package to fund construction projects through borrowing. Senate Minority Leader David Hann says that's far too large and shouldn't be taken seriously.