$105M For Transportation Projects Held Up As Dayton, GOP Argue

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Gov. Mark Dayton says more than two dozen road and bridge repair projects may be delayed after federal funding was blocked by a top House Republican.

State departments need legislative approval to spend federal money like the $105 million sum transportation officials had lined up for 28 projects. When the Legislature isn't in session, that authority falls to a small group of interim lawmakers.

Republican Rep. Tim Kelly objected, arguing the sum should be approved directly by the Legislature. Dayton on Wednesday called that a senseless interruption that may result in construction delays.

It's another consequence of the messy and inconclusive end to the 2016 legislative session. A major construction package would have given the Department of Transportation the OK, but that bill failed.

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