PROFIT.

>> Eric: WE'VE RUN OUT OF TIME.

GOOD STUFF, THOUGH.

GLAD TO SEE YOU BOTH.

CREATING JOBS AND ECONOMIC STIMULUS ARE OFTEN ARGUMENTS BEHIND BIG BONDING BILLS FOR STATE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

THE GOVERNOR RELEASED HIS BONDING BILL PROPOSAL THIS WEEK AND LAWMAKERS ARE WRAPPING UP THEIR STATEWIDE TOURS TO SEE THOSE PROPOSALS IN-PERSON.

REPORTER MARY LAHAMMER TAKES ALONG TO EXPLAIN THE OUTLOOK FOR THE ONLY BILL THAT NEEDS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

[ DOGS BARKING ] >> A LOCAL HUMANE SOCIETY IS THE HEART WRENCHING STOP IN THE FINAL STEP FOR SENATORS ON THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT COMMITTEE.

>> WE'VE REALLY COVERED THE STATE.

AND IT'S KIND OF SHOCKING THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEED THAT'S OUT THERE.

>> LAST YEAR LAWMAKERS APPROVED A RECORD BONDING BILL OVER $2 BILLION IN A BUDGET YEAR SO ANOTHER BILL AND STATEWIDE TOUR IS A BIG ASK.

>> WE DEFINITELY HAVE HIT THE GROUND RUNNING WITH SENATOR PAPPAS TAKING OVER THE LEAD OF THE BONDING COMMITTEE.

>> JUST THIS WEEK I THINK WE ARE AT PROBABLY 60 HOURS OF BONDING TOURS.

>> IN ONE WEEK.

>> YEAH.

IT'S CRAZY.

>> THE HUMANE SOCIETY IS ONE OF THE OLDEST NON-PROFITS IN THE STATE AND ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY WITH STATEWIDE REACH.

THEY'RE BEST KNOWN FOR ADOPTION AND 90% GO HOME.

THEY ALSO OFFER LOW COST VETERINARY SERVICES, DOING 20 TO 30 SPAY/ANNUITIER SURGERIES A DAY.

>> PEOPLE IN MINNESOTA DO IN THE METRO AREA IN PARTICULAR REALLY CARE ABOUT THEIR PETS AND THE PETS ARE PART OF THEIR FAMILIES.

THIS NEW DESIGN THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT WITH A NEW FACILITY IS REALLY AN IMPORTANT FACILITY.

I'M EXCITED THAT THEY'VE RAISED SO MUCH PRIVATE MONEY.

>> THE HUMANE SOCIETY IS ASKING LAWMAKERS FOR $15 MILLION FOR A NEW FACILITY IN ST. PAUL.

>> IT IS SO HARD BEING ON THIS BONDING COMMITTEE, AND HEARING GREATER PROJECTS.

I DON'T WANT TO NAME ANY OF THEM BECAUSE THEY'LL THINK -- >> THERE WERE PUPPIES ALL MORNING.

>> YES, YOU KNOW, PUPPIES ARE JUST GREAT.

WE LOVE PUPPIES.

WHEN THEY'RE OUT IN UNDERSTANDOVER AND THEY'RE DRINKING FROM THEIR WATER BOTTLES FOR A YEAR, THEY CAN'T COOK WITH THEIR WATER THAT COMES OUT OF THEIR FAUCET, THAT'S A NEED.

>> EVEN WITH THAT BIG BONDING BILL THERE WERE PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT IN BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T READY TO GO OR THEY WEREN'T THE TOP CHOICE OF THEIR LEGISLATORS.

WE HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS BUILT IN THE '60S, BUILT AFTER WORLD WAR II THAT HAVE AGED OUT.

>> AND OF COURSE THE BONDING BILL IS THE ONLY LEGISLATION THAT NEEDS TO BUILD A BIPARTISAN SUPERMAJORITY THAT OFTEN BECOMES A BLUNT NEGOTIATING TOOL.

>> THE DEMOCRATS HAVE REFUSED TO WORK WITH US.

>> I WOULD LOVE TO FUND THOSE PROJECTS BUT YOU HAVE THE VOTES OF THE DAMN BILL.

>> LAST YEAR YOU PLAYED HARD BALL.

THE SENATE PLACED TO PUT THIS INTO HEAVY NEGOTIATIONS.

ARE YOU GOING TO BE THAT TOUGH AGAIN >> WE ARE IN THE COMPLETE MINORITY, GOVERNOR, HOUSE AND SENATE ARE ALL IN DEMOCRAT CONTROL SO THEY PRETTY MUCH CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT EXCEPT FOR THIS ONE BILL, THE BONDING BILL.

>> IS THERE A CHANCE OF NO BILL?

IS THERE A CHANCE BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND SENATE THAT REPUBLICANS SAY NO WAY, NOT AFTER AN ELECTION YEAR, NOT AFTER YOU DID LAST TIME.

>> THERE'S ABSOLUTELY A CHANCE.

2.6 BILLION WENT OUT THE DOOR LAST YEAR AND THAT WAS A LOT OF MONEY.

>> WHAT IS THE CHANCE OF NO BONDING BILL?

>> THERE'S ALWAYS THAT HANCE.

>> YOU HAD A RECORDING BONDING BILL, CONTEXTUALIZE THAT FOR US.

>> E SHOULD EALLY BE DOING A MAJOR BONDING BILL EVERY YEAR.

OUR PROBLEM AS A STATE IS WE'RE RUNNING UP AGAINST OUR RULES, WHICH WE CARRY SO MUCH DEBT.

WE CAN'T BORROW AGAIN FOR TWO YEARS UNTIL WE PAY OFF SOME OF OUR DEBT.

>> I'M GOING TO AVE MEMBERS THAT ARE GOING TO SAY WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WE BORROWED A BILLION LAST YEAR, WHY ARE WE BORROWING ANOTHER 830 MILLION?

>> THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED HIS BONDING BILL JUST BELOW A BILLION DOLLARS AFTER ALSO TOURING THE STATE.

>> MAKING SURE WE'RE LISTENING TO WHAT FOLKS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE FACILITIES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

THOSE THINGS THEY'RE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT, CLEAN WATER, PUBLIC SAFETY, SAFER ROADS AND BRIDGES IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

>> THE GOVERNOR WAS A UNION TEACHER AND TRADE UNIONS HAVE BEEN KEY IN HIS POLITICAL SUPPORT.

GROUNDBREAKINGS AND RIBBON CUTTINGS ARE TOP PHOTO OPS.

>> GOVERNORS, YOU KNOW, THE REASON THERE'S SO MUCH LABOR IN THIS OOM IS THESE BILLS ARE IMPORTANT TO US.

THESE HAVE PUT THE MEN AND WOMEN IN TRADES TO WORK.

>> THEY'RE BUILDING OUT THERE RIGHT NOW IN THIS WEATHER, CONTINUING TO MAKE SURE OUR ROADS ARE SAFE, WATER IS CLEAN, OUR BRIDGES O NOT FALL DOWN.

>> THE LOCATION OF THE GOVERNOR'S PANDEMIC BRIEFINGS WAS AN OUTDATED STATE PATROL HEADQUARTERS THAT WOULD BE REPLACED IN THIS PROPOSAL.

>> THIS ISN'T ABOUT REPLACING HEADQUARTERS, THIS IS ABOUT CHARTING THE FUTURE OF THE STATE PATROL.

WE CURRENTLY WORK OUT OF SIX DIFFERENT OFFICE SPACES THAT IS ABOUT AS FRAGMENTED AND DISJOINTED AS YOU AN GET.

>> THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS ALSO HAS ANTIQUATED FACILITIES THAT WOULD GET UPDATED.

>> OUR FACILITIES RANGE IN AGE FROM 125 YEARS ON THE OLDEST SIDE AND YOUNGEST IS PUSHING 30 YEARS OLD.

THE NEEDS ARE PROFOUND.

WE BELIEVE THIS INVESTMENT IN DEFERRED MAINTENANCE WILL GO A LONG WAY.

>> WITH CLOSE CONTROL AT THE CAPITOL AT STAKE AGAIN, GAINING REPUBLICAN VOTES COULD BE DIFFICULT BUT THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE EXPECTS STRONG BIP