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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
NEWS COLUMN
ROCHESTER BENEFITS FROM BONDING PASSAGE
Monday, Governor Pawlenty signed this year's capital investment bill into law, with a number of line-item vetoes. Even after over $200 million in cuts, many of Rochester's top priorities remained in the bill. These important projects will bring jobs and infrastructure improvements to our community. Those projects include:
§ Planning for the Rochester Mayo Civic Center;
§ A Southeastern Minnesota Regional Public Safety Training Center;
§ Drudging and restoration of Lake Zumbro;
§ Funding for Chester Woods Trail;
§ HEAPR funding for Rochester Community and Technical College; and
§ Planning for the Rochester Community and Technical College/Workforce co-location.
While there is much to celebrate in the bill, several Rochester area projects unfortunately were lost to the Governor's veto pen including funding for the National Volleyball Center and planning funds for the Southeast Express (a rail line connecting Rochester and the Twin Cities).
The National Volleyball Center brings tourism to Rochester and money to area businesses. Because the Governor line-item-vetoed funding to complete the Center, Rochester may not be able to host some of the national and international events hoped for events that would have brought additional economic benefit to our community. I am disappointed Governor Pawlenty did not consider this important community asset one of his bonding priorities.
I am also disappointed that planning for the Southeast Express will have to wait another year for consideration. Delaying this project will only further delay a unique economic opportunity to connect our community with the greater Metro area.
Rail and other mass transit options are becoming even more important as Minnesotans look for ways to drive less for both financial and ecological savings. Peak oil and increasing gas prices make light rail and the other rail projects ejected from the bonding bill a real concern for many. Putting off these projects another year will cost Minnesota hundreds of millions of dollars in federal matching funds.
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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