Bonding bill that failed in session’s final moments gets first hearing

House and Senate lawmakers on Tuesday resumed sparring over a proposed $1 billion bonding bill as they attempt to resurrect a public works borrowing package as part of an agreement for a potential special session.

Following Gov. Mark Dayton’s pocket veto last week of $259 million in tax relief over a one-word error, legislative leaders are expected to continue talks Wednesday in an effort to strike an agreement for a summertime special session to consider business left unfinished after the 2016 session adjourned last month.

Among items being considered is HF622, the bonding bill that would authorize $818 million in total borrowing as part of a $1.1 billion public works package that failed to pass during the session’s frantic final hour.

Leaders on both sides of the aisle stress the need for a major capital investment borrowing package — though disagreement on how large that bill should be appears to remain. Dayton has demanded an additional $200 million in projects be added before he will call lawmakers back to the Capitol.

WATCH Full video of the meeting on YouTube

House Capital Investment Committee Chair Paul Torkelson (R-Hanska) again defended the size of the bill during Tuesday’s informational hearing, as well as the process of negotiations that led to the compromise bill being rolled out with roughly an hour to spare before the Legislature was required to adjourn.

“There are many, many great projects all around this state in many different venues that are worthy projects,” Torkelson said. “But no matter whose target we are using we cannot fund them all.”

Conferees on Tuesday conducted — for the first time — a detailed walkthrough of the bill that would help fund infrastructure projects across the state, from Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system campus projects to road and bridge improvements   

MORE View the full project spreadsheet

DFL lawmakers criticized the level of transportation spending in the bill — saying a comprehensive road, bridge and transit bill should fund those projects. “I’m really concerned about the overall package and what it looks like for the state,” said Sen. Katie Sieben (DFL-Newport).

Calling it an “unprecedentedly political bill,” she said the Legislature’s failure to pass a comprehensive transportation bill left an “incredible need for all these (transportation) projects” that she and other DFLers said favor some parts of the state over others.