Dayton wants House bonding details
Gov. Mark Dayton is again urging House Republicans to release a detailed public works construction proposal.
Dayton is concerned that the lengthy wait for their plan will further complicate the remaining two-and-a-half weeks of the 2016 session. He wants time for a thorough, public bonding bill discussion.
So far, House GOP leaders have said only that their bonding bill target is $600 million.
During a news conference Wednesday with DFL legislative leaders, Dayton said it's time to know which construction projects are in the House plan.
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“I challenge them to come forward and tell us what that’s going do,” Dayton said. “And more importantly tell Minnesotans what it’s not going to do, because it’s not going to begin to cover the needs that the Senate has identified, that I’ve identified, that need to be addressed through a bonding bill.”
Dayton released a $1.4 billion bonding bill proposal back in January.
Senate Democrats rolled out a $1.5 billion plan earlier this week. A Senate vote on the bonding bill is planned for Thursday.
Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, warned House Republicans that they might pay a political price if a bonding bill isn’t passed this session.
“The public expects one,” Bakk said. “This is the year when we do that, and to let people down, I think there would be serious political consequences, because I don’t see a way they wouldn’t be blamed.”
House Republicans still aren’t saying when they’ll release their bonding bill. They say agreements on a transportation bill and a tax bill, two unresolved issues from last session, should come first.
House Speaker Kurt Daudt, R-Zimmerman, said he remains committed to resolving those bills.
“We think those are two issues that Minnesotans care a heck of a lot more about accomplishing here in session before we start borrowing money to pay for other things,” Daudt said.
Daudt said he thinks $600 million is adequate for accomplishing some bonding priorities. Still, he said he’s willing to talk with Democrats about coming up with a bill that can pass in both the House and Senate.