SAINT PAUL, MN – Wednesday morning, the 2018 Bonding bill was approved by a voice vote in the Ways & Means committee. Capital Investment DFL Lead Rep. Alice Hausman, (DFL-St. Paul), released this statement:
“Given the low budget target, this bill funds some of the requested projects, however, there still is room – and time – to add to the list. Interest rates are low and in these favorable economic conditions it’s a good time to make more progress on funding significant needs across the state.
“Investments for higher education, clean water and housing are welcome, but the need is much greater than this bill contains. I remain concerned about the new addition of $250 million in trunk highway bonds. This bill has, in effect, also become a transportation bill, which excludes the top MNDOT priorities and leaves out transit and passenger rail. These omissions put us behind nearly every other nearby state and creates a concern for our business competitiveness.
“There are only a few days remaining in the session, but I remain optimistic that we can find a way to fund additional projects for communities across Minnesota.”
The next stop for the Bonding bill is the House floor.