At first glance, the House Republican bonding proposal this week seemed like a clear and pointed political message aimed straight at the DFL-represented Duluth area.
Its $0 for the steam plant conversion project, the city of Duluth's No. 1 bonding priority for two years running, came off as an unmistakable jab. So did its $0 for a new science and technology building at the University of Minnesota Duluth, its $0 for a wellness center in Hermantown, its $0 for Duluth airport runway improvements, and its $12.7 million for St. Louis River cleanup, about half of what's needed to fully tap into available federal cleanup funds.
But first glances can be deceiving, as Rep. Jennifer Schultz, DFL-Duluth, was quick to point out in an interview with the News Tribune Opinion page. Funding for the Duluth airport actually is in the House transportation bill rather than in the bonding bill, she said, and the rest can be negotiated before the Legislature adjourns May 22.
"I don't believe (House Republicans) are trying to penalize Duluth," Schultz said. "Their strategy is to work their way up from this small starting point. ... This is the beginning of negotiations. I'm very confident we're going to get the steam plant and the science building at UMD in the bill and more funding for St. Louis River cleanup."
The House Republican proposal was small, just as expected - as small as DFL Gov. Mark Dayton's bonding proposal was big. A final bill can fall somewhere between the House Republican's $600 million spending plan and DFL Dayton's $1.5 billion proposal. Perhaps the Senate's $973 million bonding pitch can be the compromise.
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"There's a lot of bipartisan collaboration going on here (in St. Paul)," Schultz said.
That assessment was refreshing and offers assurance to Minnesotans frustrated by our elected leaders' inability to work across the aisle and get those things done that we elected them to accomplish.
Even more encouraging, her assessment was shared by Sen. Erik Simonson, also a DFLer from Duluth.
"I feel very good about nearly all of our area projects, assuming a (bonding) bill is to be passed," Simonson told the Opinion page. "The House version is a starting point - and purely politics. I am very confident in the Senate version and my relationship with GOP senators, and (I) believe we have a strategy to see most of our regional projects through.
"What I am far less confident in is getting the bill before us," he said. "At this point it seems like the two sides are very far apart on major spending and policy issues. (It) will be an interesting closing days."
Lawmakers owe it to Minnesotans to pass a responsible bonding bill to keep up with repairs and necessary investments in public buildings, amenities like parks, and infrastructure. The state of Minnesota has a AAA bond rating right now, more than $3 billion in available bonding capacity, and $3.7 billion in bonding requests statewide. Investment now is appropriate.
Plus, the bonding bill that was supposed to get done last year didn't get done, pushing off upkeep and investments, only making repairs and improvements more expensive and more urgent. Further delaying work will only exacerbate the need.
Duluth's newest state representative, Rep. Liz Olson, also saw the House Republican bonding proposal this week not as a dig on DFL strongholds but as a starting point for negotiations.
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"(I) remain hopeful Duluth will fare better in the final version, as the Senate and governor's proposals are much better for our region and state," Olson said. "Unfortunately, partisanship is a part of how this process is unfolding. Again, I am hopeful that Duluth's priority projects will make it into a bonding bill, and I will keep working hard to ensure a good outcome."
DFL lawmakers, the DFL governor, and the Republicans who control both the House and Senate all need to be working hard - and without any pointed political messages - to deliver a bonding bill that responsibly maintains and makes better our public places.
Compromise is needed - now, especially, with the end of session just a little over two weeks away.
