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Greetings, Thanks to your phone calls and emails, the Minnesota House of Representatives has included $50 million in funding for the Northstar Commuter Rail project as part of the bonding bill Representatives approved today. The bill passed 114 to 16, with strong bipartisan speeches in support of Northstar during the preceding floor debate. Most legislators will return to their home districts this weekend, so please take the time to thank them for their support in a phone call or if you happen to see them in person. In the coming weeks, a conference committee of House and Senate members will meet to resolve the differences between the House and Senate bonding bills. Governor Pawlenty recommended $60 million for Northstar and the Senate bonding bill contained the same amount. Obtaining $60 million in state funding this year for Northstar's construction is required for the state to seek federal funding. This level of funding would also be the final installment of state funding for Northstar's construction. Today's House vote reinforces the importance of Northstar as a smart investment for the state. Thank you for your continued support! Duane Grandy |
