Minnesota House Democrats promote $100 million for broadband

According to Fox 9

Minnesota House Democrats are branding a massive rural spending package as their “Greater Minnesota for all” agenda. They claim Republicans have not delivered on their promises when they took control of the House, but GOP lawmakers say their work isn’t done yet.

The plan calls for $45 million for local government aid to help reduce property taxes, $40 million for county program aid and $50 million for agricultural property tax credits. Democrats are also backing the governor’s call for $100 million in broadband expansion.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune goes into more of the politics around the issue..

Republicans didn’t come away from the 2015 session unscathed, however. Last year, the then-president of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, Ely DFLer Heidi Omerza, called the session a “monumental flop,” saying not enough state money flowed to broadband Internet development, local government aid, job training and workforce housing.
Rural mayors and city leaders already have been intensifying pressure on House Republicans to send more money to their communities, spending that threatens to put GOP leaders at odds with the more fiscally conservative wing of the party.

House DFLers’ plan would fill those gaps, with $100 million for broadband, $95 million for city and county aid, and $150 million as part of a larger transportation package, according to Rep. Paul Marquart, DFL-Dilworth.

This entry was posted in Funding, MN, Policy and tagged by Ann Treacy. Bookmark the permalink.

About Ann Treacy

Librarian who follows rural broadband in MN and good uses of new technology (blandinonbroadband.org), hosts a radio show on MN music (mostlyminnesota.com), supports people experiencing homelessness in Minnesota (elimstrongtowershelters.org) and helps with social justice issues through Women’s March MN.

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