St. Cloud Times

Let’s be honest.

With every seat in the Minnesota Legislature on the Election Day ballot, it’s a guarantee lawmakers and Gov. Mark Dayton will pass a big bonding bill by the time they adjourn in May. After all, bonding bills not only serve as bargaining chips at the Capitol, they also give incumbent legislators some tangible thing(s) to show voters come fall.

The governor, who is not on the ballot, put forth his proposal last week. He wants to spend $1.4 billion in infrastructure projects statewide, saying that will create more than 39,000 Minnesota jobs.

Although it’s unlikely, what really should happen next — ideally shortly after the Legislature convenes March 8 — is House Republican leaders and Senate DFL leaders should put forth their respective bonding plans. (Remember, legislators on key committees have been traveling the state for months reviewing various requests.)

That would put the three main proposals in plain sight for Minnesotans to study for several weeks before Dayton, House and Senate leaders craft their predictable last-minute compromise — most likely in the last weeks of session.

Without those two other proposals, it’s very difficult to even know what common ground exists among the three main proposals. Even so, here are some parts of Dayton’s plan to ponder until the House and Senate plans debut.

 

Bigger picture

Dayton is framing his plan as a jobs bill that benefits all parts of the state. His office notes 35 percent of projects are in Greater Minnesota, 35 percent in the Twin Cities, and 30 percent have statewide impacts.

It’s also very focused on infrastructure upgrades. For example, it puts $220 million into modernizing aging water infrastructure and protecting water quality. Plus there are many improvements to public safety facilities across the state.

Perhaps the most compelling aspect of the proposal is the $1.4 billion price tag. Fiscal conservatives might balk at it immediately. Realistically, though, that judgment cannot be made until those other two plans are known.

House, Senate leaders, what say you?

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