Bill With $373M in Construction Projects Primed for Votes

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - A public-works borrowing plan contains $373 million worth of construction projects. Only about $180 million of that is general state borrowing.

Top Minnesota lawmakers agreed to the package Thursday and it will be voted on in the upcoming special session. House Capital Investment Committee Chairman Paul Torkelson says it has money to complete the ongoing Capitol renovation, undertake a massive Iron Range bridge project, respond to recent natural disasters and construct two animal science laboratories and upgrade a few rail crossings.

The University of Minnesota animal health labs will be in Willmar and St. Paul.

Bonding bills require three-fifths votes to pass. The majorities in both chambers need buy-in from minority members. In the House, that means at least nine Democratic votes and probably more because some in the GOP might oppose it.