Accessibility menu
State Representative Alice Hausman
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-3824
For more information contact: Charlene Briner 651-296-5809
Press/News Releases
HOUSE PASSES $200 MILLION BONDING “BREAD AND BUTTER” BONDING BILL
The Minnesota House of Representatives passed a capital investment bill today to fund public works and infrastructure projects around the state. On a vote of 93 to 40, the $200 million bonding bill is designed to create jobs as quickly as possible, shore up local bridges and other infrastructure, and complement the recently passed federal recovery package.
“With Minnesota’s unemployment rate at its highest level in decades, a basic “bread and butter" bonding bill takes on additional importance,” said Representative Alice Hausman, Chair of the House Capital Investment Committee. “The focus on paintbrush and shovel-ready projects maximizes our ability to get people working within weeks on projects of significance to the entire state.”
The primary task of the Legislature this year is to craft the state’s two-year state budget and close an estimated $6.4 billion budget deficit; traditionally in budget years, lawmakers also put together a supplemental bonding bill. Hausman noted a sense of urgency to pass a public works bill this year, given the state’s dismal job numbers, a substantial backlog of building needs, and Governor Pawlenty’s previous bonding vetoes.
“Bonding projects are universally accepted as one of the best ways for government to stimulate the economy and disrupt the downward economic spiral we’re in,” stated Hausman.
While the House bonding proposal comes in higher than the state’s forecast for an odd-year bonding bill, it is significantly smaller than a recently passed Senate version. Hausman argued that current economic conditions warrant a bill of at least $200 million order to help the state climb out of recession.
“Interest rates are low, construction bids are favorable and workers are hungry for jobs,” said Hausman. “A bill of this size and scope will create thousands of jobs throughout the state.”
Hausman said the bill was limited to basic projects like capital asset preservation for state colleges and universities in an effort to work cooperatively with the Governor. While the package doesn’t include projects advanced by municipalities that usually make up a portion of a public works bill, it does contain many that leverage federal matching dollars to protect health and safety, improve transportation and other infrastructure, and preserve state assets by repairing or renovating existing structures.
Highlights of the House proposal include:
? $ 12.7 million for flood mitigation
? $39 million for transportation and transit infrastructure
? $ 11 million for local bridge replacement and rehabilitation
? $ 20 million the University of Minnesota asset preservation
? $ 30 million for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities asset preservation
? $ 20 million to improve the state’s sex offender facility at Moose Lake
? $ 2.1 million for veteran’s homes asset preservation
The bill now heads to conference committee to be reconciled with the bonding bill passed by the Senate earlier in the session.
-30-
News Items
- Hausman receives 2012 Sierra Club Legislative Leadership Award - (Posted: 2012-10-19 00:00:00)
- NEWS STATEMENT ON HOUSE PASSAGE OF BONDING BILL - (Posted: 2012-05-07 00:00:00)
- House passes bonding bill that makes strategic investments throughout the state - (Posted: 2012-05-07 00:00:00)
- Archived News Items
- Subscribe to RSS News Feeds
- Read more about RSS.