ST. PAUL - The Minnesota House has approved a capital investment proposal that includes $180 million in new General Obligation Bonds with strong bipartisan support by a vote of 96-25. The initiative focuses on the most critical statewide construction needs for 2015.
"We can be proud of this bonding bill as it is focused on areas statewide significance," said State Representative Paul Torkelson (R-Hanska), chair of the Minnesota House Capital Investment Committee. "Next year is our traditional bonding year and I anticipate we will have a larger proposal that will further address Minnesota's construction needs."
Included is $27 million for two facilities that will help Minnesota deal with avian flu and other emerging animal diseases, $33 million for State Capitol renovations, $19 million for the Lewis and Clark Rural Water Project that will help deliver clean water to residents in the southwest corner of the state, $10 million for wastewater infrastructure; $32 million for transportation needs, and $23 million for flood prevention and disaster relief.
"Unlike a previous capital investment proposal approved by the Senate on the last night of the regular session, this bill does not include an unnecessary and costly State Capitol garage-mahal parking facility," Torkelson noted. "I would describe this legislation as mostly cake with very little frosting."
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