Minn. panel considers borrowing for flood projects

Published 6:24 pm Tuesday, May 10, 2011

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A $28 million state borrowing proposal for flood relief is moving through the Minnesota House.

The bill from Republican Rep. Larry Howes of Walker passed the Capital Investment Committee Tuesday and now heads to the Ways and Means Committee.

It would pay a share of local flood-control projects in more than a dozen communities, from Austin to Roseau.

The Republican-controlled Legislature has largely ignored Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton’s call for $1 billion in state-backed projects. GOP lawmakers have said they want to limit bonding to emergency flood projects.

Dayton says a large bonding bill would create jobs and it is the Legislature’s responsibility to act.