Gov. Tim Pawlenty Monday said he will release his bonding bill recommendations, which will outline about $725 million worth of capital projects he believes the state should undertake, on Friday.
In the past, Pawlenty has traveled the state -- once, memorably, visiting the Minnesota Zoo and petting some dolphins -- as part of a roll out of his proposed list of state bonding projects.
There'll be none of that this year. His spokesman, Brian McClung, says Pawlenty will release the list of projects at a Capitol news conference mid-morning. There will be nothing fun in this year's deficit-hammered bonding bill, McClung said.
"This is austere," McClung.
Democratic legislative leaders have said they'd like to get a borrowing bill signed into law quickly after the legislative session starts on Feb. 4. DFLers would like the state to borrow in the neighborhood of $1 billion to pay for statewide construction projects.
The bonding bill tends to be the centerpiece of even number year legislative sessions. It will be again this year but the state's budget $1.2 billion deficit will also take lawmakers time and attention.
