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State Representative Tony Cornish
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4240
For more information contact: Jason Wenisch 651-296-2317
NEWS RELEASE
REP. CORNISH: BONDING BILL HIGHLIGHTS WRONG PROJECTS AT WRONG TIME
ST. PAUL – A $1 billion proposal approved by the Minnesota Legislature that borrows money to fund construction projects across the state has been trimmed by Governor Tim Pawlenty to $680 million. State Representative Tony Cornish (R-Good Thunder), who voted against the bonding proposal, supported Pawlenty’s reductions.
“This bill was brought up at the wrong time with the wrong projects,” Cornish said. “We’ve not yet addressed our nearly $1 billion budget deficit, yet legislative leaders wanted to put another $1 billion on the state’s credit card.”
Noting that the bonding bill exceeds state spending guidelines by nearly $275 million, the Governor exercised his line-item veto authority to reduce its spending. Pawlenty noted, “As usual, I have been left to reduce spending within the bill to an affordable level. The DFL-controlled legislature seems incapable of prioritizing projects or simply saying no. So, I have again done it for you.”
Among the cuts: Cultural centers, Metro Area transit, and sculpture gardens.
Cornish said questionable bonding proposals started years ago when lawmakers began prioritizing one community’s construction needs over another. Now he says most cities are looking for their piece of the pie.
“It’s just really bad timing to pass a debt bill right now when your top priority of the session is to eliminate debt,” Cornish said. “There’s no doubt that some of the bonding projects are worthwhile in a typical year, but we are way too easygoing with our money as it is and that’s why I opposed the borrowing plan.”
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