Dayton continues tour to pitch special session
With Mark Steil
Gov. Mark Dayton was in Moorhead and Worthington Thursday highlighting the need for a special legislative session this month to pass a tax bill and bonding bill.
Dayton is also pushing for the priority provisions he wants added to those bills, including money for higher education, state security hospital staffing and metro area transit. He was in Rochester and Mankato doing the same on Wednesday.
In Worthington, Dayton spoke in support of the $11.5 million in state money needed to complete the Lewis and Clark water project. That funding was included in the $990 million bonding bill that fell short of the finish line on the final night of the 2016 regular session.
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.
Dayton sounded optimistic about reaching an agreement with House and Senate leaders on a special session.
“We have our honest differences, but I’ve said I will compromise and meet halfway,” Dayton said. “If others can do that with me, then we’ll get this concluded in the next couple of weeks and go on with the summer.”
Dayton is seeking eight additional public construction projects totaling $183 million added to the bonding bill. He also wants nearly $80 million in additional spending initiatives.
But Dayton repeated his willingness to give up some of those demands. He said a $1.1 billion bonding bill would be acceptable middle ground.
“I’ve said that’s where I’m willing to meet, halfway,” he said. “So that means I’ll compromise and give some of what I believe is important for Minnesota.”
Republicans reject the governor’s calculation.
House Speaker Kurt Daudt, R-Zimmerman, said this week that the end-of-session bonding bill was already a compromise, and included many of the governor’s requested projects. Daudt said $990 million is the midpoint between the original House bonding target of $600 million and Dayton’s proposal of $1.4 billion.
“We’re not going to let the governor get away with saying we’re going to start where we left off,” Daudt said.
Members of the House and Senate bonding committees have scheduled a public hearing Tuesday afternoon to review the last bonding bill as well as the governor’s proposed additions.
Meanwhile, Dayton will continue his special session advocacy tour Friday with appearances in Duluth and St. Cloud.