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State Representative Kim Norton
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-9249
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
Column/LTE
BUILDING A STRONG FUTURE FOR MINNESOTA
Maintaining a strong Minnesota takes more than a "wait and see" attitude. It takes steady resources and forward-thinking state investments capable of creating and maintaining Minnesota's most valuable assets. Those assets include our critical infrastructure, higher education institutions, research and development efforts, natural resources, and more the good stuff that makes Minnesota such a great place to live. By making these responsible investments, our state benefits both today and in the future.
In order to fund these critical investments, the Legislature is charged with the task of crafting a comprehensive "bonding" bill in the second year of the legislative biennium. Bonding is a form of borrowing capable of building and restoring capital projects of statewide importance and economic significance throughout Minnesota. It is an essential tool in maintaining a strong foundation for our economy, and it's a reliable instrument of securing long-term progress for our state.
2008 is a bonding year in Minnesota. Moving with a sense of urgency, the House approved a comprehensive bonding bill (HF380) in the third week of the legislative session. At a time when Minnesota's economy is lagging, this bill creates over ten thousand good-paying jobs that will get Minnesotans back to work on important projects statewide. Among other things, the bill provides:
· $418 million for state colleges, universities, and technical schools;
· $196 million to fund biomedical research facilities at the University of Minnesota;
· $137 million for statewide conservation efforts;
· $72 million for pollution control and clean water projects; and
· $8 million for public safety training facilities for police, fire, and disaster response officials.
Southeastern Minnesota, and Rochester in particular, will benefit greatly from this legislation. It will be beneficial to our students, and helpful for the long-term health of our regional economy. In the House version of the bonding bill, the Rochester area would receive:
· $200 thousand for planning Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC) workforce co-location;
· $500 thousand for study of the Southeast Express a passenger rail line running from Rochester to the Twin Cities;
· $3.5 million for the Rochester Mayo Civic Center;
· $4 million for the completion of the Rochester National Volleyball Center;
· $3.7 million for the Southeast Minnesota Regional Safety Training Center;
· $2.7 million in HEAPR asset preservation funding for RCTC/UCR;
· $175 thousand for dredging and restoration of Lake Zumbro; and
· $970 thousand for Chester Woods Trail.
The bonding bill received widespread bipartisan support in the House passing by a vote of 99 to 34. It is now moving on to a conference committee where members of the House and Senate will produce a compromise bill before it is re-passed and sent to the Governor. Some aspects of the bill are likely to change, but the overall thrust of this important legislation will help produce the economic stimulus Minnesota needs. Every corner of our state will benefit from these strong investments both now and in the years to come.
Bonding is not new, not unusual rather it's a historic function of state legislatures. Responsible investments in education, infrastructure, and our many unique assets over the course of our history have built a strong foundation for Minnesota, and consistently ensured a better future for each new generation. Continuing that tradition of wise investment will maintain our state's coveted quality of life well into the future. I'm pleased that the bonding bill is on its way to becoming law because it will help secure a better tomorrow for Minnesota.
Please contact me with any questions, concerns, or suggestions you have on this or any other legislative issue. I can be reached by phone at (651) 296-9249 or by email at rep.kim.norton@house.mn. I look forward to hearing from you.
Kim Norton
State Representative
District 29B
News Items
- Rep. Norton Selected as Vice Chair of House Health and Human Services Finance Committee - (Posted: 2012-12-14 00:00:00)
- Its Time for Legislature to Get Back to Basics, Balance the Budget Honestly - (Posted: 2012-12-11 00:00:00)
- Second Saturday Coffee Meeting Date Changed to December 9 - (Posted: 2012-12-03 00:00:00)
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