SAINT PAUL – Today, the Minnesota House of Representatives considered the House Jobs and Local Projects Plan which would invest over $2.5 billion in important infrastructure improvements and job-creating local projects across the state. Not having received the constitutionally required three-fifths supermajority vote, however, the bill did not pass. Rep. Jack Considine (DFL – Mankato), who voted for the legislation, shared a commitment to continue advocating for key projects in the future.
“This legislation funds critical improvements in our most basic public infrastructure such as roads, bridges, water quality, flood mitigation and more. I’m disappointed my friends on the other side of the aisle voted against this important economic stimulus plan today, and delaying these projects will only increase costs down the road,” Rep. Considine said. “We have the debt capacity to make these investments, interest rates are low, and the jobs to be created are greatly needed right now. All that’s needed is bipartisan cooperation, and we will continue working to ensure these priorities get funding.”
The legislation contains several projects important to the Mankato-area. At Minnesota State University – Mankato the plan funds renovation of the Clinical Sciences Building, demolition of Armstrong Hall, and the partial renovation of the Wiecking Center, Performing Arts Center, library, and Morris Hall. Other regional priorities include Minnesota River riverbank restoration, phase two of the St. Peter Regional Treatment Center renovation, water quality mitigation for the city of Mankato, and predesign of a new Southern Minnesota Regional Office and Laboratory for the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
A full list of the projects proposed in the legislation can be accessed here. Video of the House Floor session will be available on House Public Information Services’ YouTube Channel.