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State Representative Jeanne Poppe
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4193
For more information contact: Sandy Connolly 651-296-8877
Press/News Releases
Passage of bonding bill offers statewide benefits Austin area receives full funding
St. Paul, MN – The news that an agreement has been reached on the state bonding bill was greeted with enthusiasm at the State Capitol yesterday.
"We've been anxiously waiting for this day," said Rep. Jeanne Poppe (DFL-Austin). "The Conference Committee and the Governor clearly recognized the statewide economic benefits of investing in our projects."
"The funding for the Riverland Community College Science Lab will educate nurses, strengthening our state health care system," said Poppe. "And the leveraging of federal dollars, in conjunction with state funds for CREP and the Shooting Star Trail, is a wise utilization of resources."
Since first coming into office this term, Poppe has worked vigorously for full inclusion of area projects in the final jobs bill package. All of her projects received full funding, for a total of almost $11 million. Flood hazard mitigation and flood relief received a total of $4 million, with money going to Austin, Albert Lea, Freeborn County and Blooming Prairie. The Riverland Community College Science lab will receive $5.4 million, the larger amount that was recommended by the Senate, and the Shooting Star Trail is designated for $450,000.
In addition, Poppe's district was awarded a share of the $23 million included for CREP funding.
After the failure to reach agreement on a bonding bill last session, the House and the Senate worked quickly to pass their versions of the jobs bill and moved it to Conference Committee in late February, where it appeared to be stalled. The news of its passage today is critical to ensure that full benefit can be made of the start of spring construction season. It is estimated that these projects could create as many as 10,000 jobs statewide.
"It is very gratifying to have played a part in obtaining this financial boost for our area," said Poppe. "Many of us first-termers were voted in because people were tired of the partisan politics of the "do-nothing" 2004 session."
"The passage of this jobs bill shows that we can get the job done."
News Items
- POPPE SELECTED AS AGRICULTURE POLICY COMMITTEE CHAIR - (Posted: 2012-11-16 00:00:00)
- Rep. Jeanne Poppe Encourages High School Juniors to Apply for Minnesota House of Representatives Page Program - Application Deadline is November 19th - (Posted: 2012-11-12 00:00:00)
- HORMEL INSTITUTE EXPANSION SIGNED INTO LAW - 2012 legislative session adjourns sine die - (Posted: 2012-05-11 00:00:00)
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