Governor Pawlenty Signs Reduced Bonding Bill

Governor Pawlenty signed a slightly slimmer 2008 Construction Projects Bill yesterday. The governor used his line-item veto to remove $208-Million from the $925-Million bill, primarily to stay within state borrowing guidelines. The only Brainerd Lakes area bonding projects vetoed were replacing the roof and new air handlers at Central Lakes College. House Republican Leader Marty Seifert believes the Governor acted responsibly and removed projects that didn't really have state taxpayer's best interests in mind. House Majority Leader Tony Sertich said Democrats were of two minds about the Governor's action; good news for community's whose projects were funded, bad news for those who were not. Other major Lakes Area projects included in the law are the anti-terrorism facility at Camp Ripley, trail development in the Cuyuna Recreation Area and a new fire alarm system for Central Lakes College.