The stage was set Tuesday in St. Paul for another showdown between the Minnesota Legislature and Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
When legislators last week voted to override Pawlenty's veto of the $6.6 billion transportation bill, it marked the first time the governor had a veto turned back. The second may be around the corner.
With an overwhelming 51-7 majority, the Senate's passage of a nearly $1 billion bonding bill clearly has the support it needs -- in this version, anyway -- to survive Pawlenty's opposition. The House is scheduled to start consideration of its own bill on Thursday; it remains to be seen, of course, what will transpire with the House bill, and what the final bonding package presented to Pawlenty will look like.
One thing is certain: Minnesota needs a new bonding bill, which would fund a myriad of projects across the state and, as a result, help stimulate Minnesota's lagging economy. The bill is, without much doubt, the most important item legislators will face this session, and it could be argued that further consideration should have been given prior to a Senate vote.
Given the need for this bill, it seems prudent that legislators get something on the table quickly to ensure further revisions can be made in the event of an eventual Pawlenty veto. When it comes to this type of funding package, gridlock isn't an option.
