The Duluth News Tribune reports…

Minnesota House Republicans edged up their proposed broadband spending Monday as they worked to wrap up their budget plan.

The new figure of $40 million for two years is $5 million more than the GOP said it would push last week. It is short of $100 million sought by Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton and $85 million proposed by Democrats who control the state Senate.

The money would be used to expand high-speed Internet to unserved areas, mostly in rural Minnesota.