Add the newly formed, bipartisan solutions-focused Blue Dog Coalition to the list of Minnesotans miffed that the Legislature didn’t pass a bonding bill last year.
To make up for the failure, on Wednesday, the coalition called for a standalone bonding bill as a top priority for these early days of the 2025 session, which just kicked off on Jan. 14. The coalition said such a bill is an “urgent need” to “invest in job-creating infrastructure projects in every part of the state.”
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Indeed, taking care of and making better public amenities like parks and libraries and public infrastructure like water systems and bridges is a core responsibility of government. For the state to meet this basic function, elected legislators typically pass a bonding bill in sessions held during even-numbered years. Their failure to do so last year signaled just how deeply divided and politically inept Minnesota has become.
“Communities across the state have gone another year without the funding they need that will rebuild and strengthen public assets and infrastructure,” Sen. Grant Hauschild, DFL-Hermantown and a member of the coalition, said in a statement. “Our communities are tired of partisan politics getting in the way of their needs. Instead, let’s come together and put the needs of Minnesota first and deliver a bonding bill to grow jobs, build local economies, and reduce the property tax burden on our local residents.”
Many of the legislative priorities identified for this session by the city of Duluth, St. Louis County, Duluth the Public Schools, and others could be addressed with a bonding bill. The sooner one is passed, the sooner necessary projects and community needs can begin to be addressed.
Duluth is seeking state money for the Aerial Lift Bridge, for example, to complete structural repairs and make improvements. The city is also seeking state financial help for its water treatment plant, which needs structural and roof repairs; for repairs to the seawall, demolition of infrastructure and utilities, and site prep at Lot D, near Bayfront Festival Park, to ready the underutilized site for redevelopment; and to begin planning for the construction of a Spirit Valley Community Center; among other priorities.
Duluth International Airport is seeking state funding to help pay for a replacement of its aging and crumbling air traffic control tower.
The 148th Fighter Wing is in need of state dollars for an aircraft-shelter project.
The DECC, Union Gospel Mission, and Great Lakes Aquarium are also all seeking state financial support.
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St. Louis County has prioritized $6 million from St. Paul for an integrated solid waste management campus in Canyon that would be a solution for PFAS, or forever chemicals; $8 million to fix the HVAC systems and make other improvements at the Depot in Duluth; and $8 million to improve access while also promoting economic development and trail connections at the Rock Ridge School in Eveleth.
The Duluth Public Schools system is calling on the state to fully fund education and to provide more funding for special education and technology and to better address low reading scores and literacy disparities, and more.
The Blue Dog Coalition formed just last month “to pursue a practical, bipartisan path forward for all Minnesotans.” That laudable and worthwhile aim, especially the bipartisan part, could be helped with the recruitment of Republicans to join the current eight DFL senators.
Regardless of membership, the coalition’s call for a bonding bill early in this 2025 session can be supported by all Minnesotans — and is already gaining encouraging support, including from Senate Capital Investment Committee Co-Chair Sandy Pappas, who isn’t a part of the coalition and who would shepherd a bonding bill through the Senate.
“Dollar for dollar, bonding bills are some of the best investments we can make in the future of Minnesota,” Sen. Pappas, DFL-St. Paul, stated. “When we invest state funds into road and bridge projects, drinking water systems, and more, we create thousands of well-paying construction jobs and ensure Minnesotan communities have the infrastructure they need to prosper. We must live up to our promise as legislators to deliver the resources our constituents need (to be) safe, healthy, and economically secure. Minnesotans cannot afford more gridlock at the Capitol that has led to the backlog of projects we see today. I urge my fellow legislators to work together and get us back on track for our infrastructure needs.”
The Trust Project
