Rep. Ryan Winkler (DFL-District 46A) was among the harshest critics of the Department of Employment and Economic Development’s decision to score the Southwest Light Rail Transit project poorly in a competition for $47.5 million.

“DEED rankings are absurd--shows no knowledge of economics or total disregard of it,” he tweeted after the scores were announced.

The Metropolitan Council’s request for $14 million for the project tied for the lowest score among the 37 projects that made it past initial screening. Despite that score, Gov. Mark Dayton awarded the project $2 million to keep the plan moving forward.

Winkler applauded light rail and detailed his thoughts on the process in an interview with the Minnesota Senate’s Capitol Report posted Wednesday.

“One of the most important things government can do to spur economic growth is to make sure people can connect to jobs and make sure a growing metropolitan region like the Twin Cities has a good mass transit system to move people around—move goods, move people,” Winkler said. “And that’s one of the core roles of government, making sure our economy works well.”

Check out Winkler’s comments and then share your thoughts in the comments below.