Bonding Bill Takes Issue At Legislative Session Opening

Minnesota House Democrats kicked off the 2010 session with a one billion dollar bonding bill.And as Fox Mankato's Sara Miles tells us, although Democrats and Republicans sometimes disagree on how money should be spent... there are a few times they actually agree.Minnesota Legislators filled the capitol today with a few hot topics in front of them...Senator Julie Rosen says, "Of course the one that brings us to the capitol this year is the bonding bill."Although both sides meet for the same reason...The debate on what issues the bonding bill should cover is what splits them in two.GOP Senator Julie Rosen says, "there are a lot of local projects in there and the governor was very clean about no local projects."Governor Tim Pawlenty chose to focus on statewide projects like flood mitigation, education and transportation in his proposed 685 million dollar bonding bill last month... ((nats))That's nearly 300 million dollars less than the DFL's proposed 1 billion dollar bill.DFL Representative Kory Kath says, "we are going to need to reconcile some of those differences and I hope we can get together and meet in the middle."(Democrats and republicans may disagree on the dollar amount of the proposed bonding bill... but one thing they do agree on, creating jobs and stimulating the economy."Representative Kory Kath says, "You hear it from me, you hear it from the people on the other side of the aisle... if we do need to promote one thing its job growth.Besides promoting job growth legislators will be working on ways to keep one of the state's biggest economy boosters in town... the Minnesota Vikings.Senator Rosen says, "We need to make sure that we keep this team here because I can't imagine losing the Vikings and having this budget deficit over and over again."Representative Kath says, "The Vikings are an asset to Minnesota so lets keep it in the conversation, but I'm gonna tell you its not gonna be the highest priority of members...only because we have bigger issues on our plate right now."Bigger issues like a lingering 1.2 billion dollar deficit...In st. paul, sm, the fox Mankato news at nineThe senate is under a fast track process that could have them passing the bonding bill by Tuesday.House Democrats' bill may be up for a vote by February 15.



 


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