Two projects in DFL Chair Alice Hausman's district don't even make it into her bill: Como Zoo and Bell Museum. Hausman said those "break her heart" but have been caught up in political rhetoric. Most of the bill will be dedicated to asset preservation or repairs to colleges and universities. She said the governor's office will not support the state's only natural history museum because he views it as overlap with the MN Zoo and Science Museum. She said she had to say no to nearly $150 million worth of projects that are in the Senate's bill and a bill this small "is a horrible bill to write." This puts the House in between Gov. Pawlenty and Senate's numbers.
When it comes to flooding in the Red River Valley, this bill does not have any money specifically in it for that. Hausman said you have to wait weeks or a month to see what public property was affected. She says when the need is clear there will be a cooperative effort with the governor and Senate. Right now there is $12.7 million for general flood mitigation across the state in the House bonding bill.
Update Tuesday: The governor says he supports are "reasonable, impactful" bill that stimulates the economy. He denied he's totally against the Bell Museum and said there was a mistunderstanding. He will talk to the U president about what he said was "not a bad idea." Overall he said "the House bonding bill is a step in the right direction."