A WAY THAT DOGS DON'T GET CAUGHT UP IN THESE THINGS.

>> Barry: ALL RIGHT.

LET'S MOVE ON TO TRANSPORTATION, A COUPLE OF TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS AN AREA FOR SENATOR DIBBLE.

ONE QUESTION THAT WE HAD FROM A YEAR IN PRECEDING WEEKS, THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO ASK IT NOW, HAS TO DO WITH THE INCREASING NUMBER OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES, HOWEVER ONE FEELS ABOUT SUBSIDIES AND WHETHER OR NOT AND HOW AGGRESSIVELY WE SHOULD MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION.

GOING TO BE MORE ELECTRIC VEHICLES ON THE ROAD.

THIS VIEWER IS CONCERNED ELECTRIC VEHICLES DO NOT OF COURSE PAY ANY GAS TAX THAT IS USED FOR ROAD MAINTENANCE AND THINGS OF THAT SORT, AND THE VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THERE MIGHT NOT BE IMMEDIATE ACTION, BUT IS THERE A LONG RANGE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION OF HOW DO WE PAY FOR ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE MOVING TO AT LEAST INCREASING NUMBER OF VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT FUELED BY CARBON.

SENATOR DIBBLE, YOUR VIEWS ON THAT.

>> WELL, THE CALLER IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES HAVE TO HELP PAY FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE TRANSPORTATION FOR THE ROAD AND BRIDGES AND THEY DON'T PAY GAS TAX BUT ELECTRIC VEHICLE OWNERS DO PAY LICENSE TAB FEES AND MOTOR VEHICLE SALES TAX, AND THOSE AMOUNTS, BECAUSE MOST ELECTRIC VEHICLES COST SUBSTANTIALLY MORE THAN OTHER CARS, ACTUALLY MORE THAN MAKE UP FOR WHAT THEY WOULD PAY GAS TAXES.

HOWEVER, THAT EXCESS THAT'S PAID INTO THE HIGHWAYS, PAID FOR WITH GAS TAX INSTEAD OF FEES AND MOTOR VEHICLES AND TAX.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES PAY TWO OF THOSE IN GREATER AMOUNTS THAT COME TO MORE THAN WHAT LESSER PRICE VEHICLES PAY, BUT THAT INCREASE GOES AWAY AFTER THE CAR IS 10 YEARS OLD.

SO ABSOLUTELY WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT A MECHANISM WHEREBY ELECTRIC VEHICLES FOR THE DURATION OF THEIR LIFE PAY AS MUCH AS CARS DO NOW.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF WAYS WE CAN DO THAT.

WE CAN DO THAT FROM DECREASING FEES.

THESE BATTERIES ARE VERY HEAVY, SO THEY HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE WEAR AND TEAR ON THEM, SO MAYBE THEY HAVE A WEIGHT FACTOR.

MECHANISMS LIKE THAT.

LIKE GAS TAX, MAYBE THERE'S A VAT TAX OR FEE.

BEFORE PEOPLE GET TOO UPSET, KEEP IN MIND ELECTRIC CARS AT PRESENT ACCOUNT FOR ONE OR TWO PERCENT OF ALL VEHICLES ON THE ROAD.

HOPEFULLY MORE SOON, BUT THE GAS TAX LICENSE MOTOR VEHICLED SALES TAX, THOSE ARE THE WORKFORCES OF OUR ROAD SYSTEM.

>> REPRESENTATIVE MCDONALD, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS.

>> I GET THAT QUESTION POSED TO ME OFTEN AS WELL.

MET THE LICENSE TAB FEES AND TAX ON THE VEHICLE WHEN THEY PURCHASE IT, SENATOR DIBBLE SAYS THEY PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE, IF YOU WILL, FOR THAT, BUT I THINK IT HAS TO BE A USER TAX.

I LIKE THE IDEA, SENATOR DIBBLE, AS MUCH AS I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF AN ADDED TAX, BECAUSE WE ARE ONE OF THE HIGHEST TAX STATES IN THE NATION, INCOME TAX, CORPORATE TAX, AND THE SUMMER WE WERE THE TOP IN THE NATION.

BUT WE DO HAVE TO PAY FOR OUR ROADS AND BRIDGES.

I DRIVE A TAHOE SO I PAY PLENTY IN GAS AND TAX.

BUT IT HAS TO BE A USER FEE, USER TAX BY THOSE WHO DRIVE ELECTRIC CARS, AND PERHAPS THE TAX OF ELECTRICITY.

WE HAVE TO FIND A MECHANISM FAIR AND EQUITABLE OF THOSE DRIVING THE ROADS AND NOT PAY THE SAME TAX OF THOSE WHO DRIVE WITH THEIR FUEL CARS WHO ARE INDEED PAYING INTO THAT SPECIAL FUND, DEDICATED FUND TO FIX THE ROADS AND BRIDGES.

THERE ARE IDEAS FLOATING AROUND THE CAPITAL, AND REPRESENTATIVE GAROFALO WHO DRIVES AN ELECTRIC CAR, HAS A COUPLE HIMSELF, BUT I ENTERTAIN ANY REASONABLE FISCAL RESPONSIBLE TAX OR FEE THAT THEY PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE AS WELL.

>> Barry: SENATOR PRATT.

>> I THINK WE HAVE A BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT AROUND HERE.

YOU KNOW, I WOULD NEVER TAKE ON SENATOR DIBBLE WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDING ROADS AND BRIDGES.

HE'S ONE OF THE EXPERTS IN THE CAPITOL.

AS I RECALL, WE IMPLEMENTED THE FEE, REGISTRATION FEE AS A MAKEUP FOR THE GAS TAX, BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO PAY FOR IT.

I KNOW LAST SESSION WE WERE ENTERTAINING IDEAS ABOUT HOW TO CHARGE THAT FUEL TAX, TAX ON THE ELECTRICITY ONLY FOR THE ELECTRICITY THAT WAS GOING TO CHARGE THE CAR.

WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THAT.

BUT I THINK THERE WAS ANOTHER OPTION THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR THAT THE DFL HOUSE ABSOLUTELY REFUSED AND THAT WAS DEDICATING AUTO REPAIR AND PARTS, SALES TAX TO ROTED AND BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION WHICH WOULD HAVE MADE UP A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THE GAP THAT WE HAVE AND MAINTAINING AND REBUILDING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

SENATOR SCOTT NEWMAN CARRIED THAT.

IT WAS SUPPORTED BY A BROAD COALITION OF TRANSPORTATION EXPERTS.

UNION TRADES WERE BEHIND IT, AND I WAS DISAPPOINTED WE COULDN'T SEEM TO GET THAT DONE, BECAUSE WE DO NEED A STEADY STREAM OF FUNDING AS OUR ROADS AND BRIDGES CONTINUE TO WEAR OUT.

>> Barry: GO AHEAD, SENATOR.

>> I JUST WANTED TO CORRECT THE RECORD.

THE HOUSE DID ACCEPT THAT IDEA.

SO THAT WAS A PART OF THE DEAL.

WE JUST DIDN'T PASS THE FINAL BILL.

SENATOR PRATT ISN'T WRONG.

THE HOUSE RESISTED.

ALONGSIDE BY SIDE WITH SENATOR NEWMAN WE PERSUADED THE HOUSE TO ACCEPT.

IT WAS PARTIALLY ACCURATE.

>> Barry: LET'S TALK TRANSPORTATION GENERALLY, BECAUSE WE HAVE VIEWERS WHO ARE JUST ASKING GENERIC GENERAL QUESTIONS WHAT THE TRANSPORTATION BUDGET IS LIKELY TO LOOK LIKE IN A YEAR WITH SOME SURPLUS FUNDS, NOT ARGUING ABOUT HOW MUCH.

BUT WHAT OTHER KINDS OF TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS WE ARE LIKELY TO SEE FUNDED.

LET'S START WITH YOU, SENATOR DIBBLE, BECAUSE OF YOUR BACKGROUND.

>> I DO HAVE TO RUN.

THE VOTE IS GOING TO BE NEAR.

I WANT TO SAY GOOD-BYE TO YOU AND YOUR VIEWERS AND SENATOR DIBBLE AND PRATT AND I APPRECIATE BEING ON YET AGAIN.

YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT NIGHT AND GOD BLESS.

>> Barry: THANK YOU, REPRESENTATIVE MCDONALD FOR JOINING US AND WE WILL TALK ABOUT YOU AFTER YOU LEAVE.

TRANSPORTATION ISSUES.

>> SO I AM HOPEFUL, OPTIMISTIC THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE USE OF SOME OF THE SURPLUS AND OF COURSE OCCURS ON A ONE-TIME BASIS, BUT IT'S AN EXCELLENTIA OF ONE-TIME DOLLARS.

IT'S FOR CONSTRUCTION FOR CAPITAL, IF YOU WILL, GETTING SOME OF THAT MONEY INTO THE TRANSPORTATION BUDGET TO FIX ROADS AND BRIDGES AND DO SOME SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AND, YOU KNOW, DO SOME OF THESE INNER-CITY ECONOMIC CORRIDORS.

THEY CALL THEM CORRIDORS OF COMMERCE CONNECTIONS AND THE LIKE AS WELL AS SUPPORTING SOME OF THE CAPITAL OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE FOR TRANSIT, BOTH IN GREATER MINNESOTA AND IN THE METRO AREA AS WELL.

DCIALLY, WE HAVE A LOT OF FEDERAL FUNDS.

WE HAVE THE IJA, LARGE INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE THAT WAS PASSED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL THAT REPRESENTS ABOUT $7 BILLION COMING TO THE STATE OVER THE NEXT 5 YEARS OR SO, MAKING SURE SOME OF THAT IS GOING TO REQUIRE A STATE MATCH.

SOME OF THAT ALSO COMES TO THE STATE ON A COMPETITIVE DISCRETIONARY GRANT BASIS.

SO WE HAVE TO BE COMPETITIVE FOR THOSE GRANTS, AND THAT'S THE OPPORTUNITY TO ELECTRIFY OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, MAKE SURE THAT TRANSPORTATION IS BUILT IN A WAY THAT SENIORS AND STUDENTS AND PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, HAVE ACCESS TO JOBS AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.

SO A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY THERE.

IN THE METRO AREA, WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW -- EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE THE SURPLUS THAT'S IN THE GENERAL FUND, THE TRANSPORTATION SOURCES I JUST CITED FOR HOWEVER THE TAX DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AS WELL AS TRANSIT AND METRO AREA, THOSE SOURCES ARE ALL IN DECLINE AND TRANSIT IN THE METRO AREA AND WE ACTUALLY HAVEN'T BEEN FUNDING IT ADEQUATELY WITH STATE SOURCES.

PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THE LRT WE KEEP HEARING ABOUT, THAT'S ACTUALLY FUNDED WITH TAXES FROM THE COUNTY, AND IT'S NOT REALLY A STATE FUNDED -- IT'S NOT AT ALL A STATE FUNDED PROJECT.

THE STATE SOURCES THAT FUND OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM WERE COMING UP ON A CLIFF AND PRETTY MUCH HAVE TO DISMANTLE THE BUS SYSTEM, REGULAR ROUTE SERVICE, BUS SYSTEM UNLESS WE ACTUALLY RAISE FUNDS IN THE METRO AREA TO KEEP IT AFLOAT.

WE KNOW WE ARE GOING TO HAVE INCREASED POPULATION AND NEED TO ADD TO THE TRANSIT SYSTEM AND PROBABLY NEED TO PUT A LITTLE MORE MONEY ON THE TABLE.

ALL THE TRANSPORTATION SOURCES FOR OUR ROADS AND BRIDGES, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A 70-YEAR-OLD ROADWAY SYSTEM THAT WE CONTINUE TO FALL FURTHER AND FURTHER BEHIND ON, AND SO WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT IF WE ARE GOING TO RAISE SOME DOLLARS TO SUPPORT THAT OVER THE LONG HAUL OR NOT.

>> Barry: SENATOR PRATT GENERAL TRANSPORTATION ISSUES AND FUNDING QUESTIONS.

>> SENATOR DIBBLE, I THOUGHT EXPLAINED IT VERY WELL.

I WANT TO COMMENT ON SENATOR DIBBLE FOR PASSING ONE OF THE VIEW BIPARTISAN BILLS WE PASSED THIS SESSION INPUTTING MONEY FORWARD IN MATCHING FUNDS FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

IT'S REALLY GOING TO HELP ALL OF OUR COUNTIES, ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS IN DOING THE VERY IMPORTANT INFRASTRUCTURE FOR REPAIRING ROADS AND BRIDGES.

WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN UNIQUE INTERESTS.

MINE IS HIGHWAY 169.

WE HAVE THE LAST STOP LINE BETWEEN CHAMPLIN AND ST. PETER.

IT'S FOR RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC AND FOR GETTING THE AGRICULTURE PRODUCTS TO THE PORTS OF SAVAGE.

WE CAN FIND A LOT OF COMMON GROUND IN HELPING TO REBUILD OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, BECAUSE IT'S MAYBE THE ONE THING I HEAR REGARDLESS OF WHETHER I'M IN MY DISTRICT OR SOMEBODY ELSE'S DISTRICT THAT WE HAVE.

YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS TRANSIT, I DO THINK WE NEED TO RETHINK OUR TRANSIT MODEL.

MORE AND MORE OF OUR JOBS ARE MOVING OUT TO THE SUBURBS, BUT WE STILL HAVE A TRANSIT SYSTEM FROM OUTSIDE MINNEAPOLIS GOING INTO THE CITY.

SO WE HAVE ACTUALLY HAD SOME SUCCESS WITH A PILOT BUS LINE RUNNING FROM THE MALL OF AMERICA TO SHAKOPEE BRINGING PEOPLE TO AMAZON AND SERTEED.

WE ARE SEEING MORE WORK FROM HOME AND WE ARE JUST SEEING GROWTH IN THE SUMMERS, QUITE HONESTLY.

ON THE TRANSIT SIDE THERE'S THINGS WE CAN DO TO RETHINK OUR MODEL.

CONGRATULATIONS SENATOR DIBBLE FOR PASSING A BIPARTISAN BILL.