The state Senate approved more than $1 billion worth of capital projects Thursday ? a capital budget that exceeds the governor's preferences by $150 million. The so-called bonding bill, which typically is the primary order of business in even-year legislative sessions, passed 56-9. It is a top priority for organized labor in this session.

The main difference between the two proposals is how much funding they provide for construction and renovation at the state's colleges and universities. The Senate proposes more than $376 million in projects for the University of Minnesota and MnSCU systems. That's $105 million more that Gov. Tim Pawlenty's proposal.

The Senate also proposes about $22 million more than Pawlenty for roads and bridges, and more money overall for other forms of transit. Both proposals agree, however, in allocating $60 million in funding for the proposed Northstar commuter rail line between Minneapolis and Big Lake.

The governor spends more on prisons, primarily by pushing for expansion in Faribault now, a project that Senate Capital Investment chair Keith Langseth argues can be delayed a few years.

Workers Memorial included
The Senate version is "a very good bonding bill in terms of projects the AFL-CIO supports," said Steve Hunter, secretary-treasurer of the state labor federation. "There are a lot of construction projects in the Twin Cities and around the state that will put a lot of people to work." The Senate also includes the $400,000 necessary to build a Workers Memorial on the Capitol grounds ? a project Pawlenty has opposed.

It's too early to tell which projects will have priority in the House of Representatives, Hunter said, but he expects the House version to be closer in size to the Pawlenty's proposal. The House probably won't produce a final bill until mid-April, he said.

Overall, the Senate would issue $961.2 million in general obligation bonds to finance its projects, compared with the governor's $855 million.

Where the money goes
Among Senate priorities:

? $152.8 million for the University of Minnesota, including $40 million for repairs and maintenance. In the Twin Cities, the bill proposes $41.3 million for a new science classroom building, $40 million for a new medical bioscience building, and $13.3 million for an expansion of the Carlson School of Management. In Duluth, it includes $15.3 million for the Labovitz School of Business.

? $223.2 million for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, including $55 million for repairs and maintenance. Proposed new construction includes $32.9 million to expand Trafton Hall at Minnesota State University-Mankato, $19.9 million for a new science instruction and resource center at Century College in White Bear Lake, $18.9 million for a science and applied health center at Minneapolis Community and Technical College, $14 million to expand the Wick Science Building at St. Cloud State University, $11.2 million to renovate Maxwell Hall at Winona State University, and $4.9 million for "smart classroom" renovation at Metropolitan State University in St. Paul.

? $6.1 million to renovate the Capitol dome and east wing.

? $96 million for natural resources ? including flood control, state park improvements, state and regional trails, and metro greenways, plus an additional $30.2 million for specific park and trail projects in the metro area.

? $62 million for local bridge and road repair and replacement.

? More than $21 million for transit projects beyond Northstar, including $4.5 million for transit in Greater Minnesota, plus planning for metro projects such as the Central Corridor between St. Paul and Minneapolis, a Cedar Ave. transitway between Lakeville and Bloomington, a Robert St. transit corridor between St. Paul and Rosemount, and restoring St. Paul?s Union Depot as a transit hub.

Michael Kuchta edits the Union Advocate, the official publication of the St. Paul Trades & Labor Assembly. E-mail him at advocate@stpaulunions.org