The Minnesota Senate today debated an early-session, one-sided bonding bill. The bill requires a 3/5 majority vote, which equals 41 votes. The bill failed by a vote of 33-32.

Senator Carla Nelson (R-Rochester) has repeatedly said that the Senate should address Minnesotans’ urgent need for tax relief in addition to a bonding bill. She has also attempted multiple times to immediately pass her bill that would eliminate the state’s tax on Social Security benefits, but Democrats have rejected each of those motions.

Senator Nelson issued the following statement:

“I have long been a strong advocate for the smart use of bonding for critical infrastructure projects, especially projects that will help Rochester and southeast Minnesota, like the Rochester Airport, the County Road 14/44 interchange, and others. I have voted for every bonding bill during my 15 years in the Senate, because bonding is an important tool to address critical projects. My commitment to our critical infrastructure is as strong as ever.

But with a $19 billion surplus, our first priority should be providing tax relief to Minnesotans. We need to get this tax relief out the door right away. There is no reason to delay any further; if we work together, we can get bonding and tax relief done very quickly. I hope that Senate Democrats will begin working with us in good faith moving forward.”

Watch Senator Nelson’s floor comments on the bonding bill.