Members of the Minnesota House passed a pair of bills Monday night that would invest billions of dollars in public infrastructure.
The measures outline using the funds to fixed up roads, bridges, water systems, and college facilities, as well as parks and trails.
"Capital investment bills are more than adjusting numbers that we see on the spreadsheet," said Rep. Fue Lee, chair of the House capital investment committee. "They are about strengthening communities, and our communities are eagerly waiting for us to take action."
One bill calls for borrowing nearly $1.5 billion to cover the infrastructure costs, with much of that money met with federal matching dollars.
The other measure outlines spending $393 million in straight cash.
Republican representative Pat Garafolo spoke against the measure, arguing that the money is already there to complete those infrastructure projects
"There's no reason for the state of Minnesota to be borrowing money when we have $17.5 billion in the state's coffers," he said. "The only financially responsible decision to make on this bill is to vote 'no'."
The politics of assembling bonding bills get complicated because it usually takes a 60% super-majority in each chamber for the state to take on more long-term debt.
That means a tough sell in the state Senate, where the Democrats have a razor-thin majority and would need GOP support to pass either package that made it through the House.
