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State Representative Leon Lillie
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-1188
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
NEWS COLUMN
BUILDING JOBS AND A STRONGER FUTURE
The 2010 Legislative Session is underway, and we have immediately set to work on aggressive efforts to restore Minnesota’s economy. On the first day of session, lawmakers introduced this year’s bonding bill (HF2700), focused on getting thousands of Minnesotans to work while revamping the state’s critical infrastructure.
On the recommendation of State Economist Tom Stinson, we are working quickly to get this bill passed and signed by Governor Pawlenty within the first month of session. Passing the bill early will allow time to get projects going as soon as the ground thaws this spring. That will put thousands of workers back on the job as quickly as possible.
In fact, conservative estimates project the bonding bill laid out this session could create 10,000 jobs or more, connecting unemployed Minnesotans with opportunities to work and moving our state closer to recovery.
One bill won’t put all of the state’s 220,000 unemployed workers back on the job. But turning thousands of unemployment checks into paychecks means more people spending in local businesses, more taxes coming into the state to pay for roads, education, and health care. It is a step in the right direction for our economy.
It’s important we pass this bill now for many reasons. Yes, hundreds of thousands are unemployed, in need of work. And yes, getting people to work in May and April on high-priority, shovel-ready projects will yield short- and long-term economic benefits for our state.
But passing this bill this month will also allow the state to get these projects done at a lower price. Construction bids on projects proposed in this year’s bonding bill are coming in 20 to 30 percent lower than expected – giving the state a bargain on our recovery efforts. Every day we wait to pass this bill, the more we risk yielding less value for taxpayer dollars.
That’s why the House and Senate have already passed the bill, and moved it into conference committee. The House bill passed focused mainly on repairs at our higher education institutions, local bridges and transit, economic development projects, and clean water infrastructure.
Some of those projects will have a direct impact in our local communities, including $3 million to construct an East Metro Regional Fire Training Facility in Maplewood.
Right now firefighters in the East Metro area don’t have the training facilities they need to meet National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. By building this facility, area fire departments will be able to meet those standards through state-of-the-art training exercises. A central training facility in Maplewood will also save fire departments money because they won’t have to travel to other parts of the state for training.
High-value projects like these in our community and across the state will build and improve local infrastructure that will enhance our standard of living, and provide long-term economic benefits for Minnesotans. From training our firefighters and first responders, to providing state-of-the-art classroom space for our students, these projects put people to work building Minnesota’s future. That’s an investment in our state and our recovery worth making.
Serious economic and fiscal challenges will continue to dominate our work at the Capitol this session. I am confident that working together we can address these issues wisely and responsibly. But we need your help. Please continue contacting me throughout the legislative session with your questions, concerns, and suggestions. I look forward to hearing from you.
Leon Lillie
State Representative
District 55A
(651) 296-1188
rep.leon.lillie@house.mn
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