DFL lawmakers could send a slightly different version of a state construction borrowing bill Gov. Tim Pawlenty previously threatened to veto to his desk this week.
A working group of state lawmakers came up with the $986 million bonding bill proposal last week to replace a $1 billion bonding bill both houses have passed but which hasn’t been sent to Pawlenty, who promised to veto it if it reaches his desk.
You can see the changes this revised bill would make to the DOA bonding bill here.
Among them were:
* $44 million in cuts to educational facilities in Alexandria, Canby, Worthington, Marshall, Dakota County and Anoka Ramsey and North Hennepin Technical Colleges.
* Elimination of $5 million for a garbage incinerator for Pope and Douglas counties.
* Inclusion of $2.5 million in design funding for an emergency operations training center in Arden Hills.
* Inclusion of $36 million for expansion of a sex offender treatment facility in Moose Lake.
* Inclusion of $9.5 million for renovating a building on the Minneapolis Veterans Home campus.
* Inclusion of $10 million in funding for perimeter fences and security upgrades at Oak Park Heights correctional facility.
* $10 million less in funding for civic center renovations and expansions in Mankato, Rochester and St. Cloud.
The additions were for items Pawlenty had requested, though the Moose Lake funding is far less than the $89 million he had sought.
Pawlenty also said he wanted a bill closer in size to the $725 million in projects he proposed before the session began.
DFL leaders, who get frustrated when Pawlenty speaks approvingly of local projects such as the civic centers in Mankato, Rochester and St. Cloud, yet demands fiscal discipline on the bonding bill, hope to flush him out on specific reductions he would like to see made before they pass the bill this week.
If the changes are enough to get Pawlenty to sign the bill, he could still line-item funding for projects for which he disapproves.
If he were to veto it anyway, the revisions could be an attempt to secure support from three or more Republican members of the House of Representatives who would be needed to oveturn his veto.
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