Bonding bill on fast track at Capitol
The House has proposed a nearly $1 billion bonding bill, with a number of local projects not found in the governor’s smaller bill.
The Senate is expected to present its bonding bill this afternoon in committee, a bill likely to be about the same size as the House’s.
The House is expected to take its bonding bill out for a floor vote on Feb. 15, said House Capital Investment Chairwoman Alice Hausman, DFL-St. Paul, with the Senate acting quicker.
One big difference between the House’s bill and Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s $685 million bonding bill is that Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) gets more bonding — approaching three times the amount in general obligation bonding.
Some area projects found in the House’s bill and not in the governor’s includes funding for a bridge replacement in Milaca, Northstar Commuter Rail extension funding, some $2 million for Springbrook Nature Center in Fridley, $2 million for the Old Cedar Avenue Bridge in Bloomington, some $15 million for the St. Cloud Civic Center expansion. and about $10 million for the Oliver H. Kelley Farm near Elk River.
Republicans argue the bill is too big and represents misplaced priorities.
