The House passed a $255 million bonding bill on Tuesday (March 27), one
containing a number of local projects. The House bill, which is smaller
than the Senate's, includes the use of $120 million in one-time money.
by T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter
The House passed a $255 million bonding bill on Tuesday (March 27), one containing a number of local projects.
The House bill, which is smaller than the Senate's, includes the use of $120 million in one-time money.
House Capital Investment Chair Rep. Alice Hausman, DFL-St. Paul, House Capital Investment Committee chair, explained the bill favors Greater Minnesota by about $30 million.
One item Republicans specifically attacked was some $300,000 to acquire land adjacent the Riverview Elementary School in the Anoka-Hennepin School District.
Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Delano, argued the funding represented an inequity, because there are schools in his district that could use additional land.
But Rep. Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, countered the math/science school is a state asset - a magnet school. Hortman carried the land acquisition bill in the House.
Springbrook Nature Center
Another north metro project in the bill is $2.5 million for the Springbrook Nature Center in Fridley - the money will draw matching private dollars, explained Hausman.
Funding for Springbrook is also found in the Senate bill.
Another natural resource project includes $125,000 for Cuyuna County State Recreation Area for a natural surface trail.
The Minnesota Zoo is slated to receive $1.5 million for a water management system - the Senate bill contains funding, too.
In the area of public safety, both the House and Senate bills dedicate $2.5 million for a grant to Anoka County to build and equip a regional forensic lab.
In transportation, some $2 million is included in both House and Senate bills for a high-speed rail line project between St. Paul and Chicago.
The House bill contains $250,000 to plan the extension of the Northstar Commuter Rail Line between Big Lake and Rice. Currently, Big Lake is planned as the end of the line for Northstar.
$70 million to U of M, colleges
The University of Minnesota and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities get about $70 million in funding under the House bonding bill
Republicans attacked the bill as being transit heavy - some $30 million is slated for design and construction of a Central Corridor Transit Way between Minneapolis and downtown St Paul Union Depot.
Other transit projects include $500,000 for the Rush Line for park-and-ride or park-and-pool lots, and $500,000 for the Red Rock Corridor Transit Way for park-and-ride lots between Hastings and Minneapolis via St. Paul.
Some $10 million is slated for local bridge replacement and rehabilitation in the bill.
House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, R-Marshall, criticized the bill - it's suppose to be for emergencies on odd-numbered legislative years, he argued. "In talking about this bill there's a lot odd but not much of an emergency," he said.
House Majority Leader Tony Sertich, DFL-Chisholm, defended the bill. "I wonder what side of the bed Representative Seifert wakes up on because it always seems the wrong side," said Sertich. He called the bill a jobs bill.
Republicans attempts to cut back the bill by amendment by failed by wide margins.
No way Pawlenty will sign bill
"There's no way Governor Pawlenty will sign this bill or anything close to it," said Rep. Steve Sviggum, R-Kenyon. "The governor's going to veto the bill," he said.
Pawlenty proposed some $70 million in bonding projects in his state budget.
The bill passed on a 84-45 vote.
Local lawmakers voting for the bill: Dittrich, Doty, Gardner, Hansen, Hortman, Kalin, Kranz, Lenczewski, Madore, Masin, Morgan, Tillberry, Tingelstad, and Tschumper.
Voting against: Anderson, B., Buesgens, Dean, DeLaForest, Dettmer, Eastlund, Emmer, Erhardt, Eirckson, Garofalo, Hackbarth, Holberg, Ozment, Peppin, and Wardlow.
ECM capitol reporter
The House passed a $255 million bonding bill on Tuesday (March 27), one containing a number of local projects.
The House bill, which is smaller than the Senate's, includes the use of $120 million in one-time money.
House Capital Investment Chair Rep. Alice Hausman, DFL-St. Paul, House Capital Investment Committee chair, explained the bill favors Greater Minnesota by about $30 million.
One item Republicans specifically attacked was some $300,000 to acquire land adjacent the Riverview Elementary School in the Anoka-Hennepin School District.
Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Delano, argued the funding represented an inequity, because there are schools in his district that could use additional land.
But Rep. Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, countered the math/science school is a state asset - a magnet school. Hortman carried the land acquisition bill in the House.
Springbrook Nature Center
Another north metro project in the bill is $2.5 million for the Springbrook Nature Center in Fridley - the money will draw matching private dollars, explained Hausman.
Funding for Springbrook is also found in the Senate bill.
Another natural resource project includes $125,000 for Cuyuna County State Recreation Area for a natural surface trail.
The Minnesota Zoo is slated to receive $1.5 million for a water management system - the Senate bill contains funding, too.
In the area of public safety, both the House and Senate bills dedicate $2.5 million for a grant to Anoka County to build and equip a regional forensic lab.
In transportation, some $2 million is included in both House and Senate bills for a high-speed rail line project between St. Paul and Chicago.
The House bill contains $250,000 to plan the extension of the Northstar Commuter Rail Line between Big Lake and Rice. Currently, Big Lake is planned as the end of the line for Northstar.
$70 million to U of M, colleges
The University of Minnesota and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities get about $70 million in funding under the House bonding bill
Republicans attacked the bill as being transit heavy - some $30 million is slated for design and construction of a Central Corridor Transit Way between Minneapolis and downtown St Paul Union Depot.
Other transit projects include $500,000 for the Rush Line for park-and-ride or park-and-pool lots, and $500,000 for the Red Rock Corridor Transit Way for park-and-ride lots between Hastings and Minneapolis via St. Paul.
Some $10 million is slated for local bridge replacement and rehabilitation in the bill.
House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, R-Marshall, criticized the bill - it's suppose to be for emergencies on odd-numbered legislative years, he argued. "In talking about this bill there's a lot odd but not much of an emergency," he said.
House Majority Leader Tony Sertich, DFL-Chisholm, defended the bill. "I wonder what side of the bed Representative Seifert wakes up on because it always seems the wrong side," said Sertich. He called the bill a jobs bill.
Republicans attempts to cut back the bill by amendment by failed by wide margins.
No way Pawlenty will sign bill
"There's no way Governor Pawlenty will sign this bill or anything close to it," said Rep. Steve Sviggum, R-Kenyon. "The governor's going to veto the bill," he said.
Pawlenty proposed some $70 million in bonding projects in his state budget.
The bill passed on a 84-45 vote.
Local lawmakers voting for the bill: Dittrich, Doty, Gardner, Hansen, Hortman, Kalin, Kranz, Lenczewski, Madore, Masin, Morgan, Tillberry, Tingelstad, and Tschumper.
Voting against: Anderson, B., Buesgens, Dean, DeLaForest, Dettmer, Eastlund, Emmer, Erhardt, Eirckson, Garofalo, Hackbarth, Holberg, Ozment, Peppin, and Wardlow.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
