Civic centers, mass transit, conservation programs and other projects were pitched Monday by city and county officials who urged Gov. Tim Pawlenty and the Legislature to approve $150 million in additional public works spending.
"These are projects that are going to be done at some point, but they're going to become much more costly in the future," said St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis.
Proposed bonding projects could become bargaining chips in continuing negotiations over the budget crisis.
But key DFLers noted that the Legislature had already approved the additional items earlier in the session, only to have Pawlenty veto them.
"They've got to go to the governor's office and make their case," said Sen. Keith Langseth, DFL-Glyndon.
Referring to the governor, Rep. Alice Hausman, DFL-St. Paul, added, "There has to be just a really clear sense from him of what's doable."
Kleis and Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin called for about $150 million in additional public works spending. The bonding bill passed by the Legislature in March contained $1 billion in spending, which Pawlenty's vetoes whittled to $686 million.
At the time, Pawlenty left open the possibility of reconsidering the stricken projects if legislators revised them. One conservation project would bring in federal money and is backed by hunting and fishing groups as well as other conservationists.
