Updated ... Feb. 26, 2008
House, Senate override veto; transportation bill passes
A comprehensive transportation bill was approved on Monday after the Minnesota House voted 91-41 and the state Senate voted 47-20 to override Gov. Tim Pawlenty's veto.
The MAPE Board of Directors approved MAPE’s support of the transportation bill at Friday’s Board meeting.
“This is a historic, positive step this state has taken that will help reverse the decline of the transportation system in this state,” said MAPE Executive Director Jim Monroe. “The transportation infrastructure in this state is crumbling from decades of neglect. The passage of this transportation legislation will help Minnesota to move away from passing these costs totally on to future generations, and make the necessary repairs and improvements that are urgently needed.”
In the first major showdown of the legislative session between lawmakers and the governor, six House Republicans joined the DFL majority Monday afternoon in backing an estimated $6.6 billion transportation package to create jobs, increase safety and reduce gridlock on the state's roads. Gov. Pawlenty vetoed the bill Friday, less than 24 hours after it was originally approved by the Legislature.
MAPE would like to extend thanks to courageous House members, of both major parties, who voted to override the governor’s veto. All democrats in both houses voted in favor of the override.
The following legislators deserve additional thanks for helping to move Minnesota forward: Rep. Neil Peterson (R-41B, Bloomington), Rep. Ron Erhardt (R-41A, Edina), Rep. Jim Abler (R-48B, Anoka ), Rep. Kathy Tinglestad (R-49, Andover), Rep. Rod Hamilton (R-22B, Mountain Lake), and Rep. Bud Heidgerken (R-13A, Freeport).
In the Senate, two Republicans voted in favor of the override: Steve Dille (R, Dassel) and Dennis Frederickson (R, New Ulm).
The comprehensive transportation bill had support from a wide variety of organizations, from the labor movement and transit advocates to the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and the state's soybean growers.
