Senator Terri Bonoff (DFL-Minnetonka) argued yesterday that businesses need high speed rail to be competitive.  Republicans had proposed cutting $1 Million in funding to plan and design high speed rail in Minnesota. After debate, Republicans relented and agreed to restore the funding.

This debate is part of the effort by the Minnesota Senate to pass a transportation omnibus bill this week. The Minnesota House of Representatives passed five omnibus finance bills last week, which left Republican leaders more optimistic. But DFLers were not as upbeat. 

Every week,  Minnetonka Patch features video segments with your local lawmakers: Sen. Terri Bonoff (DFL-District 43), Sen. David Hann (R-District 42), Sen. Gen Olson(R-District 33), Rep. John Benson (DFL-District 43B), Rep. Connie Doepke (R-District 33B), and Rep. Kirk Stensrud (R-District 42A). The UpTake is a non-profit, citizen-driven, on-line video news gathering organization, established in 2007.