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RELEASE: House prioritizes transportation, water infrastructure, higher education in bonding proposal

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

ST. PAUL, MN—Rep. Paul Torkelson, R-Hanska, Chair of the House Capital Investment Committee, announced Tuesday a bonding proposal that prioritizes fixing local roads and bridges, higher education, and water infrastructure.

"We have worked diligently to put together a proposal that focuses on the priorities important to communities across Minnesota," Torkelson said. "This bill invests in local roads and bridges, our Higher Education institutions, and will help local communities make improvements to their water infrastructure. This is a true compromise that finds agreement with the Governor and the Senate and respects taxpayers by not exceeding our ten-year bonding average."

The proposal includes $227 million for local road and bridge projects, $130 million for water infrastructure projects, and also includes $137 million for Higher Education, with a significant portion of that funding going to asset preservation.

"I'm grateful to Chair Torkelson for his hard work in putting together a common-sense proposal that focuses on Minnesota's infrastructure needs," added House Speaker Kurt Daudt, R-Crown. "It's been my goal since the start of session to put together a bonding proposal that all sides can vote for, and this bill does just that."

The Capital Investment Committee is set to take up the GOP proposal at 10:30AM (or at the call of the chair) in Room 10 of the State Office Building. Click here for the full proposal spreadsheet.

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