Republicans respond to failed Senate bonding bill

It came down to a single vote.

Republicans gathered outside the State Office Building Thursday afternoon to provide reaction to the Senate failing to pass a $1.8 billion bonding bill by a single vote.

“Democrats did not come and ask about support whatsoever, they just assumed the votes were there,” said Senate Minority Leader David Hann (R-Eden Prairie).

“There is plenty of time to do a bonding bill, but there are issues that need to be worked on,” Hann said. “There is a lot of room to compromise and negotiate, but it’s time to get serious.”

House Speaker Kurt Daudt (R-Crown) maintained that had the bill passed, it would not have met constitutional muster anyway since the bill had not originated in the House.

While the House has yet to unveil its capital investment bill, it is expected to be in the neighborhood of $600 million and could contain some funding for road and bridge projects.

 “We are concerned with putting together a bonding bill that every member of the Legislature will be proud to vote for,” Daudt said. “Let’s roll up our sleeves and work together. There is a lot of time left to work; we’re not drawing lines in the sand today.”