Minnesota construction workers, who face some of the bleakest job prospects in the nation, were hoping for quick action on the infrastructure legislation. They also look forward to the end of the state government shutdown, which has idled numerous crews on state-funded road projects.
Governor Mark Dayton called a special session Tuesday afternoon after he and leaders of the Republican-led Legislature said they had reached agreement on appropriation bills that would fund state government for the next two years. Minnesota has been without a budget since July 1, leading to a government shutdown and the layoff of more than 20,000 state employees.
The bonding bill to fund infrastructure projects includes some $131 million for facilities in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, $89 million for the University of Minnesota and more than $103 million for natural resources projects. It also would invest millions more in transportation, public safety, pollution control and other areas.
At the beginning of the session, Governor Dayton proposed a $1 billion bill that he said would create more than 28,000 construction jobs. Building Trades unions said the special session proposal, while smaller than they would have liked, would still put several thousand people to work.
The latest figures compiled by the Associated General Contractors of America show Minnesota saw the steepest decline in construction jobs of any state over the last year.
Construction employment in Minnesota dropped 14.1 percent – a loss of 12,900 jobs – since one year ago, the contractors’ association reported in May.
During the special session, lawmakers approved an appropriations bill to fund jobs, economic development and housing and sent it to Dayton for his signature. The legislation reduces support for many programs, but preserves or boosts funding for programs that affect the disabled and that help to spur job growth.
Rep. Karen Clark, DFL-Mpls., said the compromise version of the bill passed Tuesday is better than its previous incarnations, but said it still cut funding for valuable programs like contaminated site cleanup grants, which help attract businesses.
“This was supposed to be the year of creating jobs,” Clark said.
This article contains information from Session Daily, a publication of the Minnesota House.
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Minnesota construction workers, who face some of the bleakest job prospects in the nation, were hoping for quick action on the infrastructure legislation. They also look forward to the end of the state government shutdown, which has idled numerous crews on state-funded road projects.
Governor Mark Dayton called a special session Tuesday afternoon after he and leaders of the Republican-led Legislature said they had reached agreement on appropriation bills that would fund state government for the next two years. Minnesota has been without a budget since July 1, leading to a government shutdown and the layoff of more than 20,000 state employees.
The bonding bill to fund infrastructure projects includes some $131 million for facilities in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, $89 million for the University of Minnesota and more than $103 million for natural resources projects. It also would invest millions more in transportation, public safety, pollution control and other areas.
At the beginning of the session, Governor Dayton proposed a $1 billion bill that he said would create more than 28,000 construction jobs. Building Trades unions said the special session proposal, while smaller than they would have liked, would still put several thousand people to work.
The latest figures compiled by the Associated General Contractors of America show Minnesota saw the steepest decline in construction jobs of any state over the last year.
Construction employment in Minnesota dropped 14.1 percent – a loss of 12,900 jobs – since one year ago, the contractors’ association reported in May.
During the special session, lawmakers approved an appropriations bill to fund jobs, economic development and housing and sent it to Dayton for his signature. The legislation reduces support for many programs, but preserves or boosts funding for programs that affect the disabled and that help to spur job growth.
Rep. Karen Clark, DFL-Mpls., said the compromise version of the bill passed Tuesday is better than its previous incarnations, but said it still cut funding for valuable programs like contaminated site cleanup grants, which help attract businesses.
“This was supposed to be the year of creating jobs,” Clark said.
This article contains information from Session Daily, a publication of the Minnesota House.