Transportation is one of the biggest issues on the legislature’s agenda this year. A recent report showed that more than half of Minnesota’s roads are more than 50 years old, and 40% of the state’s bridges are more than 40 years old. Estimates show we need around $6 billion over the next decade to ensure our roads and bridges are safe.

Even Republicans are admitting that constituents want a plan to repair and replace our roads and bridges.

“People are still e-mailing me and saying, ‘You make sure we get our roads and bridges taken care of,’ ” said Rep. Peggy Bennett, R-Albert Lea, who unseated a DFLer in a swing district in November.

The very next line of the Star Tribune story that quotes GOP Rep. Bennett?

The transportation plan from House Republicans focuses on roads and bridges, but contains a spending boost that is less than a fifth of what Dayton wants on a yearly basis. It has no tax increases, would reach four years into the future rather than 10, and has no money set aside for transit projects, a longtime punching bag for the GOP.

Rep. Peggy Bennett and legislative Republicans love to talk about how transportation is a priority, but they don’t actually want to invest the money to keep Minnesotans safe on the roads.