Senate borrowing bill passes easily

The House is expected to vote on its version of the bill later this week, after which the two chambers and the governor will work to resolve differences.

By MARK BRUNSWICK, Star Tribune

Last update: March 4, 2008 - 11:59 PM

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Not much hope

First the gas tax increase, then the news that they knew a long time ago, but hid till that gas taz got passed, the news that we were going … read more to be a billion dollars in the hole on economic projections and so far the way out of that is a secret, and now, we have the Senate, the House, and The Governer, all bubbling all over themselves over the fact that we need that billion dollar bond bill? What a bunch of gutless one sided jerks, no answers from them on how this ia all going to wash out, or be paid for but one thing for sure, the sun is going to shine, and its all going to be rosy as can be because this bill is going to make possible, JOBS, JOBS, JOBS? Add to this the economic forecast for next year, probably a repeat of this one? Have n fear, Mr Deep Pockets Senator Keith Langseth must be on cloud nine tonight, the man that never saw a bonding bill he did not like, the one that looks out pretty well for Clay County first, then the state, so everybody gets something, no matter, how its going to be paid for? How about every one of you calling your Representives, and Senators as a start, and I mean all of you? If you let them, do this to you and don`t complain, you get what you deserve, bitch some, and you will still get what you deserve? These guys are out of control, so why not start this year by butting the whole house out of office, first, they are the first ones up? What do you also want to bet that they will jamb this down your throats, before you hear one word about how they are going to cope with the budget deficit, and all the surprises, cut backs, fees, not taxes, and cut back in services like health and education? But not one cent taken from Civic Centers, Hockey Arenas, Volley Ball Centers. that is a good one, right, but after all Rochester has to get something< Soccer Complexes, New State Parks, and the list goes on and on, PORK, ts called? Personally it all stinks? Bob

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For information on the Senate bonding bill (SF3295), including text, go to www.startribune.com/a4089. For information on the House bill (HF380), go to www.startribune.com/a4087. For more on the governor's proposal of Jan. 14, go to www.startribune.com/a4095.

More from State Politics

The Minnesota Senate overwhelmingly passed a $1.1 billion state borrowing bill Tuesday, setting the stage for fast-track negotiations among the Senate, the House and Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

The three versions of the measure, which is often used to fund state construction projects and stimulate jobs, contain roughly the same amount of money. But the menu differs slightly in who gets funding.

A House version continues to filter its way through committees and is expected to be voted on by the end of the week.

The Senate measure passed 51-7 with little debate. Sen. Keith Langseth, DFL-Glyndon, chairman of the Capital Investment Committee, said the bill comes at the best time, both for struggling contractors interested in bidding for state work and for taxpayers worried about a souring economy.

"It helps to turn around the economy to have these people working," Langseth said. "It's the best time to be selling these bonds and constructing these projects. Doing it during booming times means the price is going to be considerable higher."

But Pawlenty spokesman Brian McClung said more work will be needed to whittle down the debt amount in the bill to an acceptable level, which traditionally does not exceed 3 percent of the state's general fund spending.

With a new, more downcast revenue forecast issued last week, that figure is about $885 million, not the $965 million in general obligation bonds in the Senate version or $960 million in the House version.

The governor's bonding proposal included a similar amount of general obligation bonds, but that plan was presented in mid-January, about a month and a half before the new forecast came out.

"Governor Pawlenty believes it's important that the state adhere to the 3 percent bonding debt limit that has been followed for decades," McClung said Tuesday. "We will work with the Legislature regarding this issue, but as it stands now, their bills will have to be reduced in size in order to be fiscally responsible and ensure that the state receives the best possible interest rate."

Key provisions in the Senate bill include $134 million for the University of Minnesota, including $48.3 million for a science center; $200 million for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities; $70 million for Central Corridor Light Rail Transit; $40 million for the Duluth entertainment center known as the DECC; $22 million for a Bemidji regional events center; and $30 million for Itasca County for public infrastructure to support Minnesota Steel expansion.

Mark Brunswick • 651-222-1636

Governor: Tim Pawlenty
One of only a few prominent Republicans to win a competitive re-election contest in the Democratic sweep of 2006, Tim Pawlenty is widely seen as politically shrewd and naturally likable.

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