Area House members support state bonding bill

Three Brainerd lakes area lawmakers supported the $1 billion bonding bill that passed the House Monday by a 92-37 vote.

Casting votes in support of the capital investment bill were Rep. Al Doty, DFL-Royalton, Rep. John Ward, DFL-Brainerd, and Rep. Larry Howes, R-Walker.

Doty cited the high unemployment rates in Crow Wing and Morrison counties as one reason for his support. He said Little Falls' unemployment is nearing 17 percent, he said.

Projects he identified that would benefit Morrison and Crow Wing County were $2 million for the Camp Ripley Veterans State Trail; $3.3 million for construction of a Little Falls truck station; $1 million for design and renovation of the Camp Ripley Troop Support Facility; and $10 million for the emergency response training facility at Camp Ripley.

Ward noted provisions he authored that are in the bill, including a share of the $3.9 million for classroom initiatives and renovations at Central Lakes College; and a share of the $2.1 million for the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area. He said the Paul Bunyan Trail also would receive funding for resurfacing.

An amendment offered by Ward was added to the bill requiring the Department of Human Services to consider using vacant or underutilized facilities for any state programs they administer instead of building new facilities.

Ward said community members have been looking for a program for the former regional treatment center in Brainerd and the amendment increases the possibility that center will be considered for a DHS program.

Howes said as the lead Republican on the bonding committee it was his responsibility to move the bill forward, knowing that Gov. Tim Pawlenty could possibly veto the entire bill. Depending on the final version of the bill, Howes said he could vote against it when it returns to the House.

"It's my job to get the bill out," he said.

He said critics of the bonding bill use the analogy of redecorating a home when a family's budget is extremely tight. He said, using that same analogy, that some projects such as a well or a septic tank simply have to get done.