Below is a collection of several days of news about the Bonding bill. Cronologically it begins at the bottom and the newest news is at the top of this sequence.

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GOVERNOR PAWLENTY RESPONDS TO DFL DECISION TO WITHHOLDING BONDING BILL -- February 23, 2010
Governor Tim Pawlenty today responded to the DFL decision to withholding the bonding bill in order to continue negotiations.  Below please find the Governor's letter to bonding chairs Senator Keith Langseth and Representative Alice Hausman and two documents he references in that letter -- his 2010 bonding recommendations and the draft veto letter the Governor prepared in anticipation that the bill passed by the House and Senate yesterday would be sent to him.
Governor's letter to Senator Langseth and Representative Hausman
2010 bonding recommendations

Draft veto letter

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Bonding bill not going to the governor

published 2/23/2010

And the bonding bill tug of war continues.

In our latest episode, House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher (DFL-Mpls) announced that the bill, approved by the House and Senate Monday, will not be sent to Gov. Tim Pawlenty who threatened a full veto because of the bill's size and contents.

Instead, after a request from Rep. Alice Hausman (DFL-St. Paul) and Sen. Keith Langseth (DFL-Glyndon), the $999.92 million bill will be returned to the Senate.

Because nobody has signed HF2700*/ SF2360, Kelliher said legislative rules allow the speaker to return the House file to the Senate, which has the option of taking action when it reconvenes Thursday. (Watch the press conference.)

Pawlenty repeatedly warned legislators he would not sign a bill larger than $725 million, and it had to contain some of his core projects.

"There was no confusion about what our expectations were for this bill. They intentionally did this and now they've got to clean up the mess," he said, adding that he is willing to consider adding or subtracting projects from his recommendations in an effort to compromise. (Watch his press conference.)

The bill provides money for things like higher education investments, flood mitigation for parts of the state, transportation and transit improvements, and clean water infrastructure and environmental protection.

Supporters say that now is the time for a larger bill with construction bids coming in about one-third lower and low interest rates. Plus, they said it would create more than 20,000 new jobs, many to begin once the frost is out of the ground.

Kelliher said Hausman and Langseth, the bill sponsors, will request specific information from the governor on what he wants in and out the bill to get it down to his requested $725 million.

Pawlenty said there shouldn’t be any confusion as to what has to be included: his Jan. 15 recommendations.

In warning lawmakers of his intentions in a letter Monday, Pawlenty was critical of what was missing from their bill, including $89.07 million for an expansion of the sex offender treatment program in Moose Lake, a security system at the Oak Park Heights prison and renovations at the Minneapolis Veterans Home to give residents their own rooms and bathrooms. However, he noted the bill contains funding for "various sports facilities and civic centers, trail enhancements, and other local earmark projects."

- Mike Cook

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GOVERNOR PAWLENTY SENDS LETTER REGARDING UPCOMING VETO OF BONDING BILL -- February 22, 2010
Governor Tim Pawlenty sent a letter to the entire legislature this evening, informing them that he will be vetoing the Capital Investment bill in its entirety.  In his letter, Governor Pawlenty wrote, "The people of Minnesota expect us to spend their tax dollars frugally and wisely.  This bill does neither."
Click here to read the Governor's letter

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2/22/10

Conference committee finalizes bonding bill, veto likely

published 2/22/2010

The capital investment bill is going to the House and Senate floors.
Conferees made some language changes and signed off on HF2700 */ SF2360 this morning. It is expected to be taken up tonight by both bodies. ( Watch the meeting.)

Sponsored by Rep. Alice Hausman (DFL-St. Paul) and Sen. Keith Langseth (DFL-Glyndon), the bill contains $999.93 million in general obligation bonding.

"I certainly hope when the governor gets back he'll sign this," Langseth said. Gov. Tim Pawlenty has been in Washington D.C. since Thursday.

However, in a late-afternoon letter to legislators, Pawlenty said he will veto the entire package, calling the bill neither frugal nor wise.

The bill includes no money to expand the state sex offender program facility in Moose Lake. Pawlenty sought $89.07 million for it in his bonding proposal. The original House bill contained the funding; the Senate had a $1 million placeholder.

   
Omnibus Capital Investment Bill Conference Committee - part 1
Sunday, February 21 2010 - watch this program or http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/htv/programa.asp?ls_year=86&event_id=2281
HF2700 (Hausman/Langseth) Omnibus bonding bill; capital improvement funding provided, new programs established and existing programs modified, previous appropriations canceled and modified, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
03:28 - Gavel and discussion of bond language with staff from Management and Budget.
24:25 - Discussion of provisions related to Moose Lake Sex Offender facility.
1:00:00 - Discussion of provisions related to housing bonds.
The committee went in to recess.
Runs 1 hour, 10 minutes.

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2/16/10 Click on this LINK to hear an audio file on the cost of sexual violence, to include: * The costs associated with the Minnesota State Sex Offender Program. * The Minnesota Department of Corrections and sex offender treatment in our state's correctional facilities. ***Presentation Added: the Federal Adam Walsh Act * The Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault will revisit the report "Costs of Sexual Violence in Minnesota,"or Download MP3

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This is what we went to the capitol to see on January 13th. the part regarding MSOP expansion starts at 10:50

Senate Video on MSOP Expansion

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AFSCME Advantage: Union Plus Scholarship Deadline Approaching
The Union Plus Scholarship program helps union members and their families defray the cost of higher education. Applications are being accepted until January 31, so act today. Union Plus Scholarship

AFSCME Publications
Read the latest issue of AFSCME WORKS magazine, which includes a cover story about the next generation of AFSCME activists. AFSCME WORKS

AFSCME Store: AFSCME Scarf
Stay warm this winter with your very own acrylic AFSCME scarf. AFSCME Scarf

Press Releases & Statements
    AFSCME Employees Pension Plan Announces 33 Shareholder Proposals
   AFSCME Commends Rep. Tonko for Nutrition Bill
    Puerto Rico's Labor Leaders Stage Sit-in
   
  
Greenline, the AFSCME Blog
   Standing Up For AFSCME Members
    Help For Haiti
    Insurance Industry Lies vs. the American People    
  
AFSCME Stories from Across the Nation
   PA: Retiree's Daughter Wins Pittsburgh City Council Seat   
   MN: Correction Officers Beat Privateers  
   NY: Activists Help Defeat Town's Merger Plan

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When the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was created in 2001, the Bush administration denied TSOs the right to bargain collectively. Errol Southers has been nominated by President Obama to head the TSA, and has pledged to overturn the Bush rules and grant TSOs full collective bargaining rights once he is confirmed by the full U.S. Senate.

AFGE anticipates a representation election to occur in early 2010 and a union not affiliated with the AFL-CIO will likely be on the ballot as well. Every union member who works at an airport and every union member who flies needs to get involved in this campaign to help AFGE deliver the message to TSOs that they have more power when they join together in a union, and that AFGE has been standing with them from the start. Please contact Candace Lund if you will be traveling by air in the next few weeks and would like luggage tags and/or a sticker to show airport screeners that you support AFGE. Read More by clicking HERE

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We would like to thank www.cybertpc.com in Askov, MN for providing Local 1092 with a great deal on a laptop for the locals secretary. Please patronize this buisness for all your home computer needs.

 

 

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A video showing highlights from the Next Wave Conference is now available on the AFSCME webpage! Check it out at: http://www.afscme.org/members/26241.cfm

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To find out more about what a MAT Committee is click HERE