$998M bonding bill falls short in Senate on final day of legislative session
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An omnibus bonding bill failed to move past the Minnesota Senate in a final vote Sunday evening, effectively blocking any bonding legislation from moving forward this session.
The bill, which would have laid out $998 million in general obligation bonds for infrastructure projects across the state, fell just short of the required three-fifths majority in the Senate, with Democrats voting in opposition.
“This is the last train leaving the station for bonding,” said Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-East Gull Lake. “It’s disappointing that we couldn’t come together tonight on this responsible, important bill. All four leaders and all four caucuses- including Senate Democrats- and the Governor, have to work together for Minnesota.”
The Senate bonding package was Senate Republican’s counteroffer to DFL representatives’ $2 billion bonding bill, which failed to pass the House on Saturday.
As the legislative session began to wind down, House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, vowed to block any bonding legislation until Gov. Tim Walz gave up the emergency powers granted to him during the state’s peacetime emergency.
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Earlier this year, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz laid out a comprehensive bonding bill as his administration’s legislative priority for 2020. He proposed borrowing packages to address infrastructure projects, disaster preparedness and access to affordable housing, among other areas.