ST. PAUL — A Republican-aligned political group is moving to counter Gov. Mark Dayton’s tax plan for road and bridge repairs.

The Minnesota Jobs Coalition announced Wednesday it was launching a barrage of radio and direct mail ads calling the governor’s proposed gas tax increase harmful and unnecessary. The group is targeting a handful of Democratic lawmakers who may be vulnerable in the 2016 election.

The radio ads mention those Democrats by name and say they want to raise the gas tax. Mark Drake, the group’s president, says that would hurt Minnesotans.

Dayton has said he doesn’t relish raising taxes but feels it’s necessary to generate steady funds for infrastructure improvements. House Republicans are calling to tap the state’s budget surplus, reroute existing tax revenue and borrow for roads and bridges.