SAINT PAUL – Today, the Minnesota House of Representatives considered the House Jobs and Local Projects Plan which would invest over $2.5 billion in important infrastructure improvements and job-creating local projects across the state. However, the bill did not receive the constitutionally required three-fifths supermajority vote so it did not pass. Rep. Tina Liebling (DFL – Rochester), voted for the legislation.
“Our bonding bill makes vital investments in communities across the state. The needs are urgent, we have the capacity to make these investments, and the projects will create the good-paying jobs we need now more than ever,” Rep. Liebling said. “House Republicans have instead chosen to hold up these critical investments for partisan reasons, including a threat from Minority Leader Daudt to stop the bill unless the governor ends emergency COVID-19 protections. It was disappointing to see Rep. Pierson and Rep. Quam join him and vote against critical improvements at the Rochester airport and development of the Graham Park Event Center. We will keep working to deliver a Jobs and Local Projects bill to fix these assets and help our economy recover.”
The bill contains investments in projects such as a new runway and other improvements at Rochester International Airport, a new event center and park at Olmsted County’s Graham Park in Rochester, and repairs and renovations of other public assets like higher education institutions, clean water infrastructure, correctional facilities, roads and bridges, parks and trails, municipal buildings and more.
A full list of the projects proposed in the legislation can be accessed here. Video of the House Floor session will be available on House Public Information Services’ YouTube Channel.