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| Date: | March 28, 2012 | | Contact Name: | Peter Winiecki | | Contact Phone: | 651-297-8077 | | Contact Email: | peter.winiecki@senate.mn | | For Immediate Release | |
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| SENATE REPUBLICANS INTRODUCE 2012 CAPITAL INVESTMENT BILL Builds and improves state infrastructure and maintains higher education facilities |
(St. Paul) – Members of the Minnesota Senate got their first look at the 2012 Capital Investment bill on Wednesday morning. The total amount of the bill comes in at $496 million in general obligation bonds which have a direct focus on making wise investments in higher education facilities and state and regional infrastructure projects.
State Senator John Pederson (R-St. Cloud), Vice Chair of the Capital Investment Committee, is responsible for including projects that are important to central Minnesota. Key projects listed in the bill include $10 million for expansion of the St. Cloud Civic Center and $4 million for St. Cloud Technical and Community College for facility improvements and maintenance.
“There are a lot of good reasons to support this bill,” said Sen. Pederson. “We started this process with over $2.6 billion in requests and many of them are truly good projects. I believe the dollar figure of this bill reflects the state’s priorities and respects Minnesota taxpayers.”
Overall, the largest portions of the bill are $179 million for higher education and $125 million for state asset preservation. It also directs $35 million to local road and bridge repair and provides for over $30 million for flood mitigation projects. The proposed bill includes $25 million for exterior renovation of the State Capitol and $20 million for wastewater treatment.
Sen. Pederson added: “This is a responsible proposal that is engineered to maintain and improve state assets. I am excited that St. Cloud and central Minnesota had projects included in the bill that they have advocated for and advanced for years. I am committed to making these projects a priority as the bill makes its way through the committee process.”
The bill was discussed during a hearing of the Capital Investment Committee on Wednesday and was approved on a voice vote by committee members. It is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday morning, March 29. Upon approval by the full membership of the Minnesota Senate, the bill will likely head to a conference committee for House and Senate members to work out differences in the competing proposals.
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