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>Bonding bill passes... >Events Center survives line-item veto.... > >[url]<a rel=nofollow target=_blank >href="http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/articles/index.cfm? >id=15028§ion=News[/url]">http://www.bemidjipioneer. >com/articles/index.cfm?id=15028§ion=News[/url]</a> > >[QUOTE]Pawlenty OKs $20 million for Bemidji events >center >Don Davis Bemidji Pioneer >Published Monday, April 07, 2008 > >ST. PAUL – Gov. Tim Pawlenty used his line-item veto >authority today to chop over $200 million from a >public works construction bill the DFL-led Legislature >sent him despite warnings it was too big. The >governor, however, kept $20 million for Bemidji's >regional events center in the bill. > >Republican Pawlenty signed the bill into law after >trimming it from $925 million down to $717 million, >stripping funding for public college and university >projects, recreational facilities, transit >construction and other local projects. > >Pawlenty has made it clear for weeks that he cannot >accept the $925 million public works funding bill that >lawmakers passed. He said he wanted to limit spending >to $825 million in order to keep interest payments at >a manageable level in tough economic times. > >“It is irresponsible to exceed the ‘credit card limit’ >that has been maintained by governors and legislators >from both parties for the past 30 years,” Pawlenty >wrote in his letter announcing that he signed the >bonding bill, but removed funding for more than 50 >projects. “ > >Projects that were removed include classroom >renovations at the University of Minnesota campuses, >including in Duluth, Crookston and Morris – and >projects at the Minnesota State Colleges and >Universities system’s Lake Superior Community and >Technical College and Mesabi Range Community and >Technical College. Pawlenty also removed funding for a >Moorhead sports center, emergency training facility in >Gonvick, rail line from St. Paul to Duluth, Hibbing >Memorial Building renovation. > >Funding for events centers, including in Duluth and >Bemidji, remained in the bill Pawlenty signed into law. > >Public works projects across the state – such as >constructing and repairing college buildings, erecting >park facilities, cleaning up water and providing for >events centers – are funded by the state selling >bonds. Once the bonds are sold, and the proceeds spent >on the projects, the state must begin paying off the >bonds with interest, much like a person who obtains a >bank loan. > >With a tightening economy, the state is receiving less >revenue from income and other taxes. In fact, the >state faces a $935 million budget deficit, forcing >lawmakers and Pawlenty to reduce the $34-billion, >two-year budget they approved last year. Pawlenty says >the state’s budget crunch means it can afford less >interest. > >In nearly every even-numbered year, a few months >before the general election, legislators approve a >bonding bill. This year, lawmakers begin with nearly >$4 billion in requests to fund projects. > >State law requires the state to bond only for projects >of statewide importance, but lawmakers and governors >often debate where that line is drawn. > >“I am hoping the governor brings his ballpoint pen >instead of his Sharpie veto marker,” House Speaker >Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL-Minneapolis, said >before Pawlenty took action, indicating she preferred >a line-item veto of projects the governor did not want. > >Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller, >DFL-Minneapolis, hinted in a Minnesota Public Radio >interview this morning that if Pawlenty decided to >veto the entire bill, there may not be a second effort. > >“I think we are focusing on balancing the budget now >and then will go home,” Pogemiller said, adding that >the Republican governor’s comments on bonding are >“rhetorical flourishes” that go too far. > >On the same radio show, Kelliher said it is important >to make the bonding bill as large as can be afforded. > >“The difference between 825 and 925 is at least 1,000 >jobs,” she said.[/QUOTE]
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