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Keep talking, legislators

At least they are still talking.

Legislators and Gov. Mark Dayton have been trading transportation plans this week. Dayton proposed two different ways to raise $600 million a year needed for state transportation projects. One involved a 5-cent raise in the gasoline tax, with a raise in vehicle registration fees. The other plan has no gas tax increase, but a whopping big increase in registration fees.

The Republicans in the House said no to either one, and proposed a plan Tuesday to use $300 million from general funds, a relatively small increase in registration fees and some borrowing for transportation. Everyone was meeting Tuesday afternoon to see what else will be worked out.

It is good that these kinds of talks are taking place, but with five days left before the May 23 legislative adjournment, it seems like too little, too late. What kind of legislation can we expect them to produce under this kind of time pressure?

We’ve asked before, and have never received a good answer – why can’t talks like this take place at the beginning of the legislative session, instead of the end?

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