Pawlenty vetoes $208 million in public works projects, including $70 for Central Corridor light rail
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty today cut down the Legislature's $925 million public works measure to $717 million by vetoing a series of projects.
From The Pioneer Press, April 7, 2008
He said he was "very disappointed" at the size of the Legislature's bill, which, he said, "reflects misplaced priorities."
Specifically, he cut out:
- $70 million for the Central Corridor light rail line between Minneapolis and St. Paul
- $11 million for the St. Paul's Como Zoo.
- $5 million for St. Paul's Asian Pacific Cultural Center.
- Two University of Minnesota projects — $24 million for a new Bell Museum of Natural History and $2 million for classroom renovations in Crookston, Duluth, Morris and the Twin Cities
- $16 million for the Red Lake school district
- $4 million in planning money for a high-speed rail line between St. Paul and Chicago and other projects.
Jaws dropped in the second floor offices of the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners as news of the veto of Central Corridor spread.
"It makes no sense," said Comissioner Victoria Reinhardt, after several seconds of silence after a Pioneer Press reporter informed her of the veto. After confirming the news with a county lobbyist, she continued. "It was his proposal to begin with. We did everything he asked for. We reached consensus. So he vetos himself?"
Dave Orrick contributed to this story.
