Caledonia Argus

Lawmakers support bonding bill to stimulate stateís economy

Posted: 2/19/03

by T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter

A bipartisan group of senators is proposing a $329 million bonding bill made up of items former governor Jesse Ventura vetoed last session.

The senators ó including Sen. Bob Kierlin, R-Winona ó argue that low interest rates plus the economic stimulus bonding could provides justifies the proposal.

ìWe should have it passed in March when the frost comes out of the ground,î said Sen. Keith Langseth, DFL-Glyndon, chairman of the Senate capital bonding committee.

A number of projects are set and ready to go, he said.

Kierlin stressed the long-term benefits of bonding the projects.

Although adding not all the items on the list of vetoed projects are necessarily quality items, they are projects lawmakers agreed on, he noted.

He estimated the cost of the bonding at $30 million a year.

Some items of interests are:

ï $8.1 million for Minnesota Zoo master plan design/construction;

ï $4.2 million for Governorís Mansion improvements;

ï $5 million for National Sports Convention Center; and

ï $24 million for the Guthrie Theatre.

The list of vetoed items includes $1.3 million for Stillwater Browns Creek improvements and $1 million for metro greenways and natural areas.

Ventura vetoed the items last session because he believed the legislature had failed to adequately in addressing the state budget.

Langseth noted that typically bonding is addressed the second year of the session, with just emergency items bonded the first.

ìWe are in an emergency,î said Langseth.

House Republican leadership seem uncertain on whether a bonding bill is necessary, and, if so, how big it should be.

House Capital Investment Chairman Rep. Phil Krinkie, R-Shoreview, gave the odds of having a House bonding bill at ìslim to none ó closer to none.î

He look at any potential bonding bill as containing just emergency items.

House Speaker Steve Sviggum, R-Kenyon, was more expansive. Although saying a House bonding bill would not contain all the items Ventura vetoed, it would contain some, he said.

Sviggum gave a ballpark figure for the size of a bonding bill at $100 million to $150 million.

Kierlin explained that he was fonder of bonding as an economic stimulus tool than the rural tax-free zones proposed by Gov. Pawlenty.

The creation of zones upsets marketplace, he explained.

Besides offering local bonding, the proposed bonding bill contains funding for local sewer and water projects.

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