3/2017 update: Response from Legislators was not good:
okay, if you don't like parts of the bill than cut them. He hasn't responded. Please consider helping testify against the parts of this bill that clearly are not needed.
---------------------------------------------------
Our letter to Senate Committee hearings regarding the Pork filled bonding bill SF210 that is being heard. Please read and consider attending the hearings. In the least please submit testimony and email and call the committee members. Worst of all is sending start up money to start more failed transit corridors. When you look over the list think to yourself "why would all the tax payers of the State be involved with funding this?"
This bill looks similar to:
Also, many state reps including Nick Zerwas believe we have no business writing a bonding bill until a responsible budget bill is signed into law. Believing things will move far more smoothly for both.Was heard in Capital investment committee in late January with no changes except adding more spending to some much needed road projects. Bill authors refuse to respond.
Dear committee members:
http://www.senate.mn/
1.) Why are you even wasting time crafting bonding bill deals when the budget isn't passed? You can use the Bonding deal to leverage a responsible budget. "No fiscally responsible budget no bonding bill DFL."
2.) Pork for colleges that are not lowering tuition ($189.1 million total):
$27 million for yet ANOTHER building at UMD (Materials Science Building)
$4.4 million for a "Plant Growth" research building.
$25.3 million for Winona State "education village".
$18.5 million for St. Cloud State "Student Health" building renovation
6.) $4 million for a "Minnesota Zoological Garden" at the MN Zoo
7.) $10.8 million for the Centennial Parking Ramp
8.) $1.9 million for a "Pioneer Public Television" station in the middle of nowhere Granite Falls?! (That's a State responsibility?!)
9.) ONLY $2.5 million for military support
10.) $1.1 million for Hugo's railway... a railway that is so short and useless it's just a cute addition to Hugo and White Bear!
11.) A $750,000 pedestrian bridge in the middle of nowhere Grand Rapids... if a precedent to fund every small town 3/4 of a million dollar pedestrian bridge was made the state would be bankrupt.
12.) $11.1 million to be given to for profit airports? Now $8.4 million as of March 8th
13.) $12.1 million to the unelected met council for the Orange Line
and $8.75 million to the unelected met council for the MOA transit station.
What part of not building anymore lines is hard to comprehend?
17.) $4.5 million for a dentist facility in Bemidji
2.) Pork for colleges that are not lowering tuition ($189.1 million total):
$27 million for yet ANOTHER building at UMD (Materials Science Building)
$4.4 million for a "Plant Growth" research building.
$25.3 million for Winona State "education village".
$18.5 million for St. Cloud State "Student Health" building renovation
$9.9 million to connect buildings at Hibbing Community College
3.) Red Lake school district with 3 to 5% reading proficiency according to schooldigger.com... you want to hand them a check for $14 million dollars to build a new school building?!!! If I was a Native American I'd be insulted that legislators think they can throw money at a problem that is directly related to an unaccountable school system... not the lack of a multimillion dollar fancy school.
4.) $1.5 million so Olmsted County can buy land for a "Dyslexia Institute of MN"
5.) $9.3 million so Polk County can add a garbage incinerator to handle burning garbage more info about these things here in Washington County and their harm to the environment and waste of tax dollars:
Washington/Ramsey County $170 million dollar Garbage Processing Plant, 6 Months In; Failing? Counties Refuse to Answer.
3.) Red Lake school district with 3 to 5% reading proficiency according to schooldigger.com... you want to hand them a check for $14 million dollars to build a new school building?!!! If I was a Native American I'd be insulted that legislators think they can throw money at a problem that is directly related to an unaccountable school system... not the lack of a multimillion dollar fancy school.
4.) $1.5 million so Olmsted County can buy land for a "Dyslexia Institute of MN"
5.) $9.3 million so Polk County can add a garbage incinerator to handle burning garbage more info about these things here in Washington County and their harm to the environment and waste of tax dollars:
Washington/Ramsey County $170 million dollar Garbage Processing Plant, 6 Months In; Failing? Counties Refuse to Answer.
6.) $4 million for a "Minnesota Zoological Garden" at the MN Zoo
7.) $10.8 million for the Centennial Parking Ramp
8.) $1.9 million for a "Pioneer Public Television" station in the middle of nowhere Granite Falls?! (That's a State responsibility?!)
9.) ONLY $2.5 million for military support
10.) $1.1 million for Hugo's railway... a railway that is so short and useless it's just a cute addition to Hugo and White Bear!
11.) A $750,000 pedestrian bridge in the middle of nowhere Grand Rapids... if a precedent to fund every small town 3/4 of a million dollar pedestrian bridge was made the state would be bankrupt.
12.) $11.1 million to be given to for profit airports? Now $8.4 million as of March 8th
13.) $12.1 million to the unelected met council for the Orange Line
and $8.75 million to the unelected met council for the MOA transit station.
What part of not building anymore lines is hard to comprehend?
14.) $12 million to just pay for part of a Sea Lion habitat at the Como Zoo
15.) $57.6 million for a demolish and rebuild the "Security Hospital" in St. Peter (town of 12,000 people)
16.) ONLY $5,000 for Veteran "asset Preservation"
16.) ONLY $5,000 for Veteran "asset Preservation"
17.) $4.5 million for a dentist facility in Bemidji
18.) $15 million for their "Steam Plant" renovations (why does all of MN have to pay for that?)
19.) $5 million for a "center for the arts" in Hennepin County
20.) $8 million for a "Arrowhead Wellness Center" in Hermantown
19.) $5 million for a "center for the arts" in Hennepin County
20.) $8 million for a "Arrowhead Wellness Center" in Hermantown
21.) $5 million for a "Norway House" in Minneapolis "to celebrate the culture of Norway and American Norwegians"
22.) $3 million of a food bank in Crookston (there isn't a church that'd be willing to host it?)
23.) $4.5 million to refurbish a Performing arts Theater in Red Wing
24.) $13 million for st. paul Science museum
25.) $6 million for St. Paul Port Authority museum of American Art
26.) St. Paul - Dorothy Day Opportunity Center for homeless people $12,000,000 (they're tearing down the old center that is perfectly useful)
24.) $13 million for st. paul Science museum
25.) $6 million for St. Paul Port Authority museum of American Art
26.) St. Paul - Dorothy Day Opportunity Center for homeless people $12,000,000 (they're tearing down the old center that is perfectly useful)
$1.6 BILLION 2017 Bonding Bill. Legislators Say They Refuse to Cut Any Pork.GOP Senate Passes $5.8 Billion Transportation Bill with $180 Million to Met Council & Mass Transit a Huge RaiseVice Chair Rep. Petersburg Promises No Transit Bills in 2017 House Transportation Omnibus BillFour GOP Legislators are Silent After Attempt to Sneak Funding for Mass Transit in Omnibus Bill Four Reasons Rep. Kelly Fenton was a Terrible Choice for a Republican Assistant Majority Leader
3/2017 update:There was a small decrease in the bill amount due to about 3 adjustments. Likely requests moved to a different bill