Today Senate Democrats failed to find bipartisan support to pass a bonding bill off the Senate floor. The bill requires a 3/5 majority vote, which is 41 votes, and required 7 Republican senators to vote for the bill. It failed to garner even one Republican vote.   

“I have heard from many constituents that they continue to struggle to afford the escalating costs of everyday necessities,” Senator Julia Coleman (R-Waconia) said. “I am fully supportive of a bonding bill and know that there are many critical projects in our community, and across the state, that we can and should bond this session. However, we must provide meaningful and permanent tax relief before we look to mortgage $1.5 billion in taxpayer dollars. Senate Republicans made it clear that we would hold strong on this stance and that is exactly what the final vote on this bill signifies.” 

After failing to pass the bonding bill, the Senate immediately voted to reconsider the bill and lay it on the table. This procedural move allows the bill to be brought up again without having to go through the committee process.  

Two weeks ago, Senate Republican Leaders made clear they needed to see movement on tax relief before they voted for a bonding bill. Last week, Republicans attempted to bring a bill to eliminate the tax on Social Security to the floor, which was defeated on a party-line vote. Senate Democrats today brought their own bill to eliminate the tax on Social Security in a procedural vote to move it one step forward. However, Democrats failed to take the bill up for an actual vote that would pass it off the Senate floor and send it to the House for consideration.