歪歪漫画

WILLMAR, Minn. 鈥� Newly elected U.S. Rep. Michelle Fischbach voiced her support for the Highway 23 Coalition 鈥檚 efforts to make the highway a four-lane route from Interstate 90 to Interstate 35.

Fischbach offered her support along with expressing her concerns about President Joe Biden鈥檚 $2 trillion infrastructure proposal during a brief presentation to Highway 23 Coalition members during their annual meeting Friday, May 14. It was held via Zoom video meeting software.

The first-term Republican congresswoman from Paynesville opened her remarks by stating that she had seen the coalition鈥檚 newly erected billboard along Minnesota Highway 23 near Interstate 94 promoting a four-lane route.

The coalition consists of more than 90 business, government and organization members promoting the Highway 23 corridor from the state鈥檚 southwestern corner to Duluth. It would like to see the entire length of the highway expanded to four lanes.

It鈥檚 what one member termed a a 鈥渓egacy鈥� project. It has an estimated cost of $1 billion.

Fishchbach told the coalition members that she has concerns about the size of Biden鈥檚 infrastructure package. 鈥淚鈥檓 very concerned about that because I don鈥檛 think it puts enough of that in roads and bridges,鈥� she said.

She earlier told a Minnesota's District 17's remote town hall meeting in April that she supports some aspects of Biden's new infrastructure package, such as broadband, but is cautious regarding electric vehicle spending.

She had to cut her remarks short to participate in voting in Congress, and turned it over to Nick Lunneborg, her legislative director.

He said Republican concerns over the size of Biden鈥檚 proposal focus on whether the funds are to be borrowed, or raised through tax increases. He said the Republican caucus in Congress would also like to see a larger ratio of the funding devoted to what he termed traditional infrastructure, such as roads and bridges. He said the congresswoman will also urge a larger commitment of funds for broadband expansion in rural areas.