Almanac: At the Capitol

Rep. Joe Atkins (DFL-Inver Grove Heights) continues his quest to question MnDOT's construction delays on the Wakota bridge. Atkins aired his frustration saying "$60 million over budget deserves scrutiny." MnDOT Commissioner Carol Molnau expressed her "regret over circumstances that have delayed the project" and she asked that the Legislative Auditor conduct an investigation (instead of Atkins I'd guess).  Here's the raw tape of the hearing.

Atkins wants a third party, like an administrative law judge, to review the "hundreds of documents" MnDOT refused to disclose saying, "What's wrong with a little sunshine." He has collected 80 boxes of information from MnDOT in this project that is now scheduled to be complete in the fall of 2010. Remember work began in 2002. New construction should begin again in April ironically from the same contractor MnDOT fired about a year ago, but now will cost about $3 million more.

Rep. Kurt Zellers (R-Maple Grove) expressed his frustration that Atkins continues to "spend taxpayer money" holding hearings on the matter and wondered why the Transportation Committee wasn't handling this issue. Atkins responded that he doesn't "ask my mom to go out and play anymore." Zellers questioned if this was just made-for-TV drama with polygraphs for a "Moment of Truth." Atkins responded that this is among the most over-budget and delayed projects in the entire United States.