Accessibility menu
State Representative John Ward
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4333
For more information contact: Sandy Connolly 651-296-8877
Press/News Releases
GOVERNOR'S VETOES CUT LOCAL PROJECTS
ST. PAUL, MN – State Representative John Ward (DFL-Brainerd) said that as the result of the Governor's numerous vetoes over the past week, several important projects for the Brainerd area will not be funded.
"It isn't just the big picture that changes with his vetoes, it's all the small components that matter so much to our district," said Ward. "It's very disappointing to succeed in getting this projects included in the final package only to see them fall without consideration at the end."
When the Governor vetoed the Capital Investment Bill, the $125 thousand that had been earmarked for trails in the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area was eliminated. This is a double whammy, according to Ward, because that appropriation would have garnered an additional $700 thousand in matching funds from the federal government and the National Trail Bike Association.
In addition, Central Lakes College also lost funding; $347 thousand to replace an obsolete fire alarm system on the Brainerd Campus, and $126 thousand to replace an obsolete boiler at the Staples campus.
Before the Environment and Natural Resources Bill was vetoed, the Crosby-Ironton Trail was designated for $125 thousand, and the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area would have received $10 thousand for a scenic overlook.
A high priority project for Rep. Ward was the Teen Challenge program, a long-term residential chemical dependency treatment center that would have been located in the former Regional Treatment Center in Brainerd.
This project is now dead as the result of the Governor's veto of the Health and Human Services Bill.
"I'm very pleased that these projects were considered to be important enough by the members of each Conference Committee to be included in the final package," said Ward. "This isn't over; next year, I will do my best to get this project funded."
If you have questions about this legislation, you can contact Rep. Ward at (651) 296- 4333, or 1-800-683-4205, by mail at 533 State Office Building, 100 Martin Luther King Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155 or via e-mail at rep.john.ward@house.mn.
News Items
- 2013 Legislative Session Preview - (Posted: Jan 11 2013 8:39AM)
- Assistant Majority Leader Rep. John Ward Sworn-In as Legislative Session Starts - (Posted: Jan 8 2013 2:39PM)
- Rep. John Ward Elected Assistant Majority Leader and Selected to Serve as Vice Chair of Capital Investment Committee - (Posted: 2012-12-19 00:00:00)
- Archived News Items
- Subscribe to RSS News Feeds
- Read more about RSS.