Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Tim Pugmire
St. Paul, Minn.

Vote expected this week on revamped bonding bill

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

DFL legislative leaders say they expect to vote this week on a revamped bonding bill.

House and Senate negotiators put together a $986 million package last week that includes several projects that Gov. Pawlenty said were priorities. But the amount included to expand the Moose Lake sex offender treatment facility was $53 million less than what Pawlenty requested, and the Republican governor still wants a bill closer to $725 million.

Still, DFL House Majority Leader Tony Sertich said the ball is now in the governor's court.

"The bonding bill, the conclusion of that is very easy right now," Sertich said. "All of the governor's major priorities are included in the bill at this time. This could be done literally within a day if the governor would just tell us what he does not like in the bill, and be very specific about that."

The governor's chief negotiator told DFL leaders that a veto of the bonding bill is still possible, without full funding for the Moose Lake project.

An earlier version was pulled back after its passage because Pawlenty said he would veto the entire package of construction projects. DFL leaders have put several key Pawlenty projects in the bill, but it's still more than $200 million larger than the governor's target. Republican Senate Minority Leader David Senjem said he's not sure if the latest bill will get signed.

"I think the governor still had to have his projects, but he also had to have his number or close to it," Senjem said. "So they're half way there, but probably haven't met the number goal that the governor is going to be happy with."