Fix it first

Minnesota has spent billions of dollars over the years building new bridges and highways to the point where we have more roads per capita than any other state in the nation. That construction has come at a cost, however. Pouring money into new construction has not left enough money to maintain our infrastructure. More than 300 bridges on interstate, U.S. or state highways are either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.

The passage of the 2008 Transportation bill over the governor's veto, with the help of MCEA, increased the gasoline tax five cents per gallon. That money should be used to maintain our current roads and bridges first.