Minnesota legislative leaders battle over bonding bill

Capitol renovation
Capitol renovation continues during the start of the 2014 legislative session in St. Paul, Minn. Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014.
Jeffrey Thompson/MPR News

The state bonding bill is a top priority for Minnesota lawmakers as the 2014 session is scheduled to wrap up next month.

The bill would fund infrastructure projects in areas varying from higher education to wastewater systems.

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"The one defining word is 'inadequate,'" Rep. Alice Hausman, D-St. Paul, said Tuesday in introducing her proposal to the House Capital Investment Committee.

Hausman said she "hopes for a miracle" and leaders come up with more money for public works projects.

That is unlikely, however, since Democratic and Republican legislative leaders already have agreed to cap public works borrowing at $850 million. It is not clear what will happen to the cash-funded projects because Republicans generally see the cap as being on both cash and borrowed money.

In order to pass, the bill needs a three-fifths supermajority, which would require support from a handful Republicans in the House and Senate.

Hausman joins The Daily Circuit along with Rep. Matt Dean, Republican lead for the House Capital Investments Committee, to discuss the latest on the bonding bill.

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