Accessibility menu
State Representative Kim Norton
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-9249
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
Press/News Releases
KIM NORTON RESPONDS TO GOVERNOR’S LINE-ITEM VETOES
ST. PAUL, MN – Last week, the state Legislature completed work on one of this sessions priorities by passing a jobs-targeted bonding bill (HF2700) with bipartisan support. The bill aimed to put tens of thousands of Minnesotans back to work rebuilding the states aging infrastructure and targeted economic development in the states regional centers in order to support long term economic recovery.
This morning Governor Tim Pawlenty delivered a line-item veto letter to Minnesota lawmakers, cutting $315 million in critical infrastructure projects from the bill – a somewhat surprising level of cuts given his own early recommendation for a $785 M bonding bill.
Cutting $144 million from higher education institutions alone, as well as crucial funding for environmental infrastructure and economic development projects, the Governors vetoes are expected to eliminate 7,000 - 8,000 jobs.
In Rochester, the Governors line-item vetoes cut: 1) $28 million in construction funding for the Mayo Civic Center renovation project; and 2) $8.5 million for the Work Force Center at Rochester Community and Technical College. Other area projects affecting SE Minnesota also fell to the veto pen.
State Rep. Kim Norton (DFL Rochester), who worked hard over many months to pass the bipartisan bill, had this to say in response to Governor Pawlentys actions:
"The Mayo Civic Center and RCTC projects would have brought hundreds of jobs to Rochester. Investing in these projects now would have capitalized on historically low interest rates, and rock-bottom construction bids.
"Both projects would have brought long-term, positive impacts to our community by bringing visitors to our region from out state and out-of-state who would support our local economy by filling our hotels, restaurants and leaving their resources in our many businesses."
News Items
- Rep. Norton Selected as Vice Chair of House Health and Human Services Finance Committee - (Posted: 2012-12-14 00:00:00)
- It’s 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)
- Archived News Items
- Subscribe to RSS News Feeds
- Read more about RSS.