House and Senate to vote despite Pawlenty's objection
Lawmakers in the Minnesota Legislature are expected to vote today on a bonding bill despite Gov. Tim Pawlenty's objection to parts of the legislation.
A joint House and Senate conference committee approved a bill that authorizes $925 million in general fund debt plus millions more from other sources. The plan funds projects for the environment, transit and colleges and universities.
Pawlenty has hinted that he would veto the bill because it spends $100 million more than he wants.
Sen. Keith Langseth, DFL-Glyndon, said the governor should line-item veto the projects he doesn't like from the bill.
"I think the only way you end up at an $825 is with him line iteming the bill because I'm not going to write an $825 million bill because I know what it would be and it would be just throwing out all kinds of things that we should be doing," Langseth said.
Pawlenty said the bill has misguided priorities and does not include some of his priorities like funding for a new nursing facility at the Minneapolis Veterans Home or a new park in northern Minnesota.
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