Minnesota Panel Delves Into Dayton’s Public Works Bill

ST. PAUL (AP) -- Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton's $1 billion public works bill gets its first look in the Republican-controlled Legislature on Wednesday.

The House Capital Investment Committee holds the first hearing on Dayton's recommendations for civic centers, college labs, flood protection, roads and bridges paid for by state-issued bonds.

Dayton's bill includes money to help finish the expansion of the St. Cloud Civic Center. However, his bill does not include money to build a $40 million science lab requested by St. Cloud State University.

The governor recommended $531 million worth of projects last month, inviting lawmakers to fill in the rest. He pitched the work as a way to create jobs.

Republican lawmakers have shown little interest in a bonding bill of that size.

They have said they want to focus only on the most urgent projects and examine unspent money from past bonding bills.

Dayton has already said he would sign a smaller bonding bill into law.