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COUNTY? >> NO LAKES IN ROCK COUNTY.
>> NO LAKES IN ROCK COUNTY. >> VERY GOOD.
>> VERY GOOD. LET'S TALK ABOUT CAPITAL
LET'S TALK ABOUT CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND THE BONDING BILL,
INVESTMENT AND THE BONDING BILL, BECAUSE THAT IS, OF COURSE, THE
BECAUSE THAT IS, OF COURSE, THE PRINCIPLE FUNCTION OF THIS
PRINCIPLE FUNCTION OF THIS SO-CALLED OFF SESSION OR SELECT
SO-CALLED OFF SESSION OR SELECT SESSION, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO
SESSION, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO PHRASE IT, UNSESSION, I GUESS.
PHRASE IT, UNSESSION, I GUESS. MAYBE WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT,
MAYBE WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT, TOO.
TOO. SHOULD WE START WITH YOU,
SHOULD WE START WITH YOU, REPRESENTATIVE CARLSON?
REPRESENTATIVE CARLSON? >> WELL, I HAPPEN TO BE ON THE
>> WELL, I HAPPEN TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE, AND WE'RE IN THE
COMMITTEE, AND WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF PUTTING THE BILL
PROCESS OF PUTTING THE BILL TOGETHER.
TOGETHER. THERE WERE SOMETHING LIKE
THERE WERE SOMETHING LIKE 2.7 BILLION IN REQUESTS.
2.7 BILLION IN REQUESTS. THE BONDING BILL WILL PROBABLY
THE BONDING BILL WILL PROBABLY BE AS FAR AS GENERAL OBLIGATION
BE AS FAR AS GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF
BONDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF ABOUT 850 MILLION.
ABOUT 850 MILLION. THERE'S ALSO SOME DISCUSSION
THERE'S ALSO SOME DISCUSSION BECAUSE THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE IS
BECAUSE THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE IS IN SUCH DIRE NEED OF FUNDS THAT
IN SUCH DIRE NEED OF FUNDS THAT PERHAPS SOME CASH MIGHT BE
PERHAPS SOME CASH MIGHT BE INCLUDED IN THAT, BUT THAT'S ALL
INCLUDED IN THAT, BUT THAT'S ALL IN THE PROCESS NOW OF BEING
IN THE PROCESS NOW OF BEING DISCUSSED.
DISCUSSED. IT WILL BE THE MAJOR BILL OF THE
IT WILL BE THE MAJOR BILL OF THE SESSION.
SESSION. FOR THOSE THAT ARE LISTENING,
FOR THOSE THAT ARE LISTENING, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE BONDING
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE BONDING BILL OR THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT
BILL OR THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT BILL, WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND
BILL, WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT'S THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE
THAT'S THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE STATE.
STATE. SO WHEN I USE A RATHER BIG
SO WHEN I USE A RATHER BIG NUMBER IN TERMS OF WHAT THE
NUMBER IN TERMS OF WHAT THE REQUESTS ARE THAT'S FOR THE
REQUESTS ARE THAT'S FOR THE WHOLE STATE, AND THAT'S
WHOLE STATE, AND THAT'S EVERYTHING FROM BRIDGES TO
EVERYTHING FROM BRIDGES TO COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY BUILDINGS.
BUILDINGS. WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN OUR
WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, AND I THINK WE
INFRASTRUCTURE, AND I THINK WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MOVING
HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MOVING AHEAD IN A WAY THAT WE DON'T
AHEAD IN A WAY THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY MORE 35 W BRIDGES, FOR
HAVE ANY MORE 35 W BRIDGES, FOR ONE THING.
ONE THING. SO IT'S A NATIONAL PROBLEM WHEN
SO IT'S A NATIONAL PROBLEM WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE NEEDS OF
WE TALK ABOUT THE NEEDS OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE UNITED
INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE UNITED STATES AND WE HAVE HUGE NEEDS IN
STATES AND WE HAVE HUGE NEEDS IN MINNESOTA.
MINNESOTA. >> SENATOR COHEN.
>> SENATOR COHEN. >> YOU KNOW, I WOULD ECHO THAT.
>> YOU KNOW, I WOULD ECHO THAT. OBVIOUSLY WHAT REMAINS TO BE
OBVIOUSLY WHAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN IS WHAT THE SIZE OF THE
SEEN IS WHAT THE SIZE OF THE BILL MIGHT BE AND GIVEN THE
BILL MIGHT BE AND GIVEN THE CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENT THAT
CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENT THAT YOU NEED A 60% MAJORITY TO PASS
YOU NEED A 60% MAJORITY TO PASS THE BONDING BILL, OBVIOUSLY
THE BONDING BILL, OBVIOUSLY WHETHER AN INDIVIDUAL LEGISLATOR
WHETHER AN INDIVIDUAL LEGISLATOR IS IN THE MAJORITY OR MINORITY,
IS IN THE MAJORITY OR MINORITY, EVERYBODY ENDS UP HAVING A SAY
EVERYBODY ENDS UP HAVING A SAY IN WHAT ULTIMATELY HAPPENS WITH
IN WHAT ULTIMATELY HAPPENS WITH THAT BILL.
THAT BILL. SO GENERALLY THE BONDING BILLS
SO GENERALLY THE BONDING BILLS HAVE PASSED WITH SOME VERY
HAVE PASSED WITH SOME VERY SIGNIFICANT BIPARTISAN SUPPORT
SIGNIFICANT BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND WOULD HOPE AND EXPECT THAT
AND WOULD HOPE AND EXPECT THAT WOULD BE THE CASE THIS YEAR.
WOULD BE THE CASE THIS YEAR. YOU KNOW, LYNN MENTIONED SOME OF
YOU KNOW, LYNN MENTIONED SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS. I THINK IN THE LAST X NUMBER OF
I THINK IN THE LAST X NUMBER OF YEARS, I'LL SAY 10 YEARS,
YEARS, I'LL SAY 10 YEARS, THERE'S BEEN A REAL EMPHASIS ON
THERE'S BEEN A REAL EMPHASIS ON HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE BILL.
HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE BILL. REPRESENTATIVE NORNES CAN SPEAK
REPRESENTATIVE NORNES CAN SPEAK TO THAT BETTER AS THE FORMER
TO THAT BETTER AS THE FORMER CHAIR OF THE HIGHER ED DIVISION.
CHAIR OF THE HIGHER ED DIVISION. REPRESENTATIVE CARLSON ALSO
REPRESENTATIVE CARLSON ALSO CHAIRED AS WELL.
CHAIRED AS WELL. I SERVED ON THAT DIVISION IN THE
I SERVED ON THAT DIVISION IN THE PAST.
PAST. AS SOMEBODY WHO SERVES ON THE
AS SOMEBODY WHO SERVES ON THE SENATE CAPITAL INVESTMENT
SENATE CAPITAL INVESTMENT COMMITTEE, I KNOW HIGHER
COMMITTEE, I KNOW HIGHER EDUCATION HAS TAKEN ON A REAL
EDUCATION HAS TAKEN ON A REAL PROMINENT ROLE, AND THEY CLEARLY
PROMINENT ROLE, AND THEY CLEARLY CLEARLY -- THAT CLEARLY SHOULD
CLEARLY -- THAT CLEARLY SHOULD BE AND OUGHT TO BE THE CASE,
BE AND OUGHT TO BE THE CASE, BECAUSE IF WE DON'T MAINTAIN THE
BECAUSE IF WE DON'T MAINTAIN THE UNIVERSITIES AND THE COLLEGES IN
UNIVERSITIES AND THE COLLEGES IN THE STATE THROUGH THAT BONDING
THE STATE THROUGH THAT BONDING PROCESS, YOU CAN SEE THE SCHOOLS
PROCESS, YOU CAN SEE THE SCHOOLS THAT KIND OF FALL INTO
THAT KIND OF FALL INTO DISREPAIR.
DISREPAIR. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT KIND OF INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT
KIND OF INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT COMING FROM THE LOCAL
COMING FROM THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
GOVERNMENTS. THESE ARE STATE INSTITUTIONS,
THESE ARE STATE INSTITUTIONS, AND I WOULD ARGUE THE MOST VITAL
AND I WOULD ARGUE THE MOST VITAL OF STATE INSTITUTIONS, SO I
OF STATE INSTITUTIONS, SO I WOULD EXPECT SEPARATE FROM SOME
WOULD EXPECT SEPARATE FROM SOME OF THE BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE,
OF THE BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE, ROADS, BRIDGES, THAT YOU'LL SEE
ROADS, BRIDGES, THAT YOU'LL SEE HIGHER EDUCATION AS THE MAJOR
HIGHER EDUCATION AS THE MAJOR COMPONENT OF THE BILL.
COMPONENT OF THE BILL. >> WELL, I THINK THAT'S VERY
>> WELL, I THINK THAT'S VERY TRUE AS WE LOOK AT WHAT'S COMING
TRUE AS WE LOOK AT WHAT'S COMING AHEAD, CERTAINLY IN IN A NUMBER
AHEAD, CERTAINLY IN IN A NUMBER OF COMMITTEES, WE'VE HEARD MANY
OF COMMITTEES, WE'VE HEARD MANY REQUESTS THAT WERE LAID OVER FOR
REQUESTS THAT WERE LAID OVER FOR POSSIBLE INCLUSION INTO A
POSSIBLE INCLUSION INTO A BONDING BILL AND CERTAINLY ARE
BONDING BILL AND CERTAINLY ARE ARE -- OUR RESPECTIVE COMMITTEES
ARE -- OUR RESPECTIVE COMMITTEES HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL JOB AHEAD OF
HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL JOB AHEAD OF THEM TO PAIR DOWN THOSE REQUESTS
THEM TO PAIR DOWN THOSE REQUESTS INTO A FINAL BILL.
INTO A FINAL BILL. I THINK, TOO, THERE ARE NOT ONLY
I THINK, TOO, THERE ARE NOT ONLY STATE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS BUT ALSO
STATE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS BUT ALSO SUBSTANTIAL LOCAL REQUESTS BEING
SUBSTANTIAL LOCAL REQUESTS BEING MADE FOR SOME THINGS THAT ARE
MADE FOR SOME THINGS THAT ARE TRULY NEEDFUL BY DIFFERENT AREAS
TRULY NEEDFUL BY DIFFERENT AREAS OF OUR STATE.
OF OUR STATE. YOU KNOW, I SAY THAT HAVING
YOU KNOW, I SAY THAT HAVING BROUGHT A BILL, LEAVE IT FOR MY
BROUGHT A BILL, LEAVE IT FOR MY OWN AREA TO COMPLETE THE LEWIS
OWN AREA TO COMPLETE THE LEWIS AND CLARK RURAL WATER SYSTEM
AND CLARK RURAL WATER SYSTEM THAT WOULD SERVE VARIOUS USERS
THAT WOULD SERVE VARIOUS USERS IN SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA.
IN SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA. YOU KNOW, WE DON'T OFTEN THINK
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T OFTEN THINK ABOUT THE STATE OF MINNESOTA
ABOUT THE STATE OF MINNESOTA HAVING WATER QUANTITY ISSUES,
HAVING WATER QUANTITY ISSUES, AND YET WE DO IN VARIOUS AREAS.
AND YET WE DO IN VARIOUS AREAS. AND SO IT IS A VERY UNIQUE
AND SO IT IS A VERY UNIQUE PROCESS AS I'M WITNESSING, JUST
PROCESS AS I'M WITNESSING, JUST BEING IN MY SECOND YEAR HERE,
BEING IN MY SECOND YEAR HERE, BUT I TEND TO AGREE THAT
BUT I TEND TO AGREE THAT CERTAINLY WE NEED TO CONCENTRATE
CERTAINLY WE NEED TO CONCENTRATE ON OUR ASSETS IN THIS STATE AND
ON OUR ASSETS IN THIS STATE AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET AN
MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET AN APPROPRIATE AMOUNT.
APPROPRIATE AMOUNT. >> AND I WOULD AGREE ALL THE WAY
>> AND I WOULD AGREE ALL THE WAY AROUND.
AROUND. 850 SEEMS TO BE THE NUMBER WITH
850 SEEMS TO BE THE NUMBER WITH A LITTLE CASH THROWN IN.
A LITTLE CASH THROWN IN. AGAIN, HIGHER EDUCATION IS A
AGAIN, HIGHER EDUCATION IS A PRIORITY.
PRIORITY. I THINK WHEN I WAS CHAIR AND I
I THINK WHEN I WAS CHAIR AND I VISITED SOME OF THE CAMPUSES,
VISITED SOME OF THE CAMPUSES, THAT'S THE MESSAGE THAT I GAVE
THAT'S THE MESSAGE THAT I GAVE TO THE ADMINISTRATIONS THAT AS
TO THE ADMINISTRATIONS THAT AS FAR AS I COULD CONTROL IT THAT
FAR AS I COULD CONTROL IT THAT WOULD WE BE TAKING CARE OF THOSE
WOULD WE BE TAKING CARE OF THOSE BUILDINGS AND MAKING SURE THEY
BUILDINGS AND MAKING SURE THEY DIDN'T LEAK AND THE HEATING
DIDN'T LEAK AND THE HEATING SYSTEMS WORKED AND SOME OF THOSE
SYSTEMS WORKED AND SOME OF THOSE BASIC THINGS.
BASIC THINGS. THERE'S A LOT OF -- I THINK WE
THERE'S A LOT OF -- I THINK WE WERE INQUIRING IN ONE OF OUR
WERE INQUIRING IN ONE OF OUR COMMITTEE HEARINGS THIS SESSION
COMMITTEE HEARINGS THIS SESSION ABOUT THE BACKLOG.
ABOUT THE BACKLOG. THE REQUEST IS FOR 100 -- I
THE REQUEST IS FOR 100 -- I THINK EACH SYSTEM IS 100 MILLION
THINK EACH SYSTEM IS 100 MILLION FROM THE UNIVERSITY AND FROM
FROM THE UNIVERSITY AND FROM MNSCU.
MNSCU. AND THAT'S JUST A DROP IN THE
AND THAT'S JUST A DROP IN THE BUCKET.
BUCKET. THEY'VE GOT MANY OTHER PROJECTS
THEY'VE GOT MANY OTHER PROJECTS WAITING THAT ARE LOWER PRIORITY,
WAITING THAT ARE LOWER PRIORITY, AND SO MY COMMENT AND COMMITTEE
AND SO MY COMMENT AND COMMITTEE WAS TO INCREASE THE GOVERNOR'S
WAS TO INCREASE THE GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION PROBABLY BY
RECOMMENDATION PROBABLY BY DOUBLE.
DOUBLE. HE'S AT 40.
HE'S AT 40. I SAID AT A MINIMUM WE SHOULD BE
I SAID AT A MINIMUM WE SHOULD BE AT 80 TO AGAIN ADDRESS THOSE
AT 80 TO AGAIN ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES, AND SO I THINK WE HAVE
ISSUES, AND SO I THINK WE HAVE ALSO SOMEWHAT OF AN AGREEMENT,
ALSO SOMEWHAT OF AN AGREEMENT, BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT THAT WE
BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT THAT WE WILL PASS ONE THIS YEAR.
WILL PASS ONE THIS YEAR. LAST YEAR THE BILL FAILED.
LAST YEAR THE BILL FAILED. THE LARGER BILL, AT LEAST.
THE LARGER BILL, AT LEAST. SO I THINK IT WILL PASS.
SO I THINK IT WILL PASS. IT'S SORT OF LIKE -- MAYBE IT
IT'S SORT OF LIKE -- MAYBE IT ISN'T A GOOD COMPARISON.
ISN'T A GOOD COMPARISON. I'M THINKING IT'S SORT OF LIKE
I'M THINKING IT'S SORT OF LIKE CHRISTMAS, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT
CHRISTMAS, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT SURE WHAT'S GOING TO BE IN THERE
SURE WHAT'S GOING TO BE IN THERE UNTIL IT'S ROLLED OUT, AND
UNTIL IT'S ROLLED OUT, AND YOU'RE HOPING YOU'RE PRESENT IN
YOU'RE HOPING YOU'RE PRESENT IN THERE, AND MAYBE THE COMMITTEE
THERE, AND MAYBE THE COMMITTEE KNOWS AHEAD OF TIME, BUT THE
KNOWS AHEAD OF TIME, BUT THE MEMBERS THEMSELVES GENERALLY
MEMBERS THEMSELVES GENERALLY DON'T.
DON'T. SO IT'S EXCITEMENT TO SEE WHEN
SO IT'S EXCITEMENT TO SEE WHEN THAT COMES OUT AND YOU GO
THAT COMES OUT AND YOU GO THROUGH IT.
THROUGH IT. >> YOU CAN'T TAKE THE GIFT BACK,
>> YOU CAN'T TAKE THE GIFT BACK, THOUGH.
THOUGH. >> IT'S NOT REFUNDABLE, THAT'S
>> IT'S NOT REFUNDABLE, THAT'S FOR SURE.
FOR SURE. >> AS A LITTLE FOOTNOTE, ONE OF
>> AS A LITTLE FOOTNOTE, ONE OF THE BUSIEST COMMITTEES YOU CAN
THE BUSIEST COMMITTEES YOU CAN SERVE ON IN THE LEGISLATURE
SERVE ON IN THE LEGISLATURE DURING THE INTERIM IS THE
DURING THE INTERIM IS THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT COMMITTEE,
CAPITAL INVESTMENT COMMITTEE, BECAUSE WE DON'T JUST, YOU KNOW,
BECAUSE WE DON'T JUST, YOU KNOW, ACCEPT THE NUMBERS IN ST. PAUL
ACCEPT THE NUMBERS IN ST. PAUL FOR THE REQUEST.
FOR THE REQUEST. WE ACTUALLY DO THE SITE VISITS.
WE ACTUALLY DO THE SITE VISITS. ON THE HOUSE SIDE, THE CAPITAL
ON THE HOUSE SIDE, THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT COMMITTEE WAS ON THE
INVESTMENT COMMITTEE WAS ON THE ROAD 20 DAYS THIS LAST SUMMER
ROAD 20 DAYS THIS LAST SUMMER AND FALL.
AND FALL. AND ONE THING THAT'S A NICE PART
AND ONE THING THAT'S A NICE PART OF THAT COMMITTEE IS THAT YOU DO
OF THAT COMMITTEE IS THAT YOU DO LEARN ABOUT MINNESOTA.
LEARN ABOUT MINNESOTA. I'M A NATIVE MINNESOTAN, AND YOU
I'M A NATIVE MINNESOTAN, AND YOU GET INTO ALL CORNERS OF THE
GET INTO ALL CORNERS OF THE STATE, AND I'VE SEEN THINGS THAT
STATE, AND I'VE SEEN THINGS THAT YOU NORMALLY WOULDN'T SEE AS A
YOU NORMALLY WOULDN'T SEE AS A TOURIST IN OTHER PARTS OF THE
TOURIST IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE, YOU KNOW, VISITING SOME
STATE, YOU KNOW, VISITING SOME OF THE DNR LANDS AND FACILITIES
OF THE DNR LANDS AND FACILITIES AND SO ON DEEP IN THE WOODS,
AND SO ON DEEP IN THE WOODS, THAT KIND OF THING.
THAT KIND OF THING. IT'S A INTERESTING COMMITTEE.
IT'S A INTERESTING COMMITTEE. >> NOT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT
>> NOT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT HAVING SAID THAT, IS THERE A
HAVING SAID THAT, IS THERE A PARTICULAR PROJECT THAT YOU
PARTICULAR PROJECT THAT YOU WOULD NOT HAVE THOUGHT OF AS
WOULD NOT HAVE THOUGHT OF AS COMING BEFORE THE CAPITAL
COMING BEFORE THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT COMMITTEE BEFORE
INVESTMENT COMMITTEE BEFORE SERVING ON THE COMMITTEE OR ONE
SERVING ON THE COMMITTEE OR ONE THAT'S PARTICULARLY INTERESTING
THAT'S PARTICULARLY INTERESTING OR SOMETHING THAT IS UNUSUAL
OR SOMETHING THAT IS UNUSUAL PERHAPS THAT THE PUBLIC MIGHT BE
PERHAPS THAT THE PUBLIC MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN HEARING ABOUT?
INTERESTED IN HEARING ABOUT? WE KNOW ABOUT BUILDINGS AND
WE KNOW ABOUT BUILDINGS AND OTHER KINDS OF SORT OF MAJOR
OTHER KINDS OF SORT OF MAJOR PROJECTS THAT TEND TO GET A LOT
PROJECTS THAT TEND TO GET A LOT OF ATTENTION, BUT THOSE AREN'T
OF ATTENTION, BUT THOSE AREN'T THE ONLY THINGS.
THE ONLY THINGS. >> WELL, THERE'S -- MOST OF IT
>> WELL, THERE'S -- MOST OF IT IS BUILDINGS AND/OR, LIKE I WAS
IS BUILDINGS AND/OR, LIKE I WAS SAYING, THINGS LIKE BRIDGES.
SAYING, THINGS LIKE BRIDGES. WHEN -- ONE THING THAT LAST TRIP
WHEN -- ONE THING THAT LAST TRIP THAT WAS RATHER INTERESTING, WE
THAT WAS RATHER INTERESTING, WE WERE UP IN THE MILLE LACS AREA.
WERE UP IN THE MILLE LACS AREA. THERE IS AN ISLAND WITH A NUMBER
THERE IS AN ISLAND WITH A NUMBER OF HOUSES ON IT.
OF HOUSES ON IT. A SCHOOL BUS PULLED UP.
A SCHOOL BUS PULLED UP. THE BUS STOP UNLOADS THE
THE BUS STOP UNLOADS THE CHILDREN.
CHILDREN. THEY WALK ACROSS THE BRIDGE, AND
THEY WALK ACROSS THE BRIDGE, AND THEN THE BUS COMES ACROSS.
THEN THE BUS COMES ACROSS. WE WATCHED THAT BRIDGE, AND IT
WE WATCHED THAT BRIDGE, AND IT WAS JUST ROCKING BACK AND FORTH,
WAS JUST ROCKING BACK AND FORTH, AND SO MAYBE -- I DON'T KNOW IF
AND SO MAYBE -- I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CALL THAT INTERESTING, BUT
YOU CALL THAT INTERESTING, BUT IT WAS RATHER ALARMING TO TELL
IT WAS RATHER ALARMING TO TELL THE TRUTH.
THE TRUTH. BUT YOU QUICKLY LEARN ONCE THAT
BUT YOU QUICKLY LEARN ONCE THAT BUS WENT ACROSS WHY THEY
BUS WENT ACROSS WHY THEY UNLOADED THE KIDS FIRST, AND
UNLOADED THE KIDS FIRST, AND THAT JUST GIVES US AN EXAMPLE OF
THAT JUST GIVES US AN EXAMPLE OF THE VITAL NEED FOR MUCH OF THE
THE VITAL NEED FOR MUCH OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
INFRASTRUCTURE. IT WAS AN OLD WOODEN BRIDGE,
IT WAS AN OLD WOODEN BRIDGE, LITERALLY.
LITERALLY. A GOOD SIZED ONE AND IT COVERS
A GOOD SIZED ONE AND IT COVERS QUITE A DISTANCE.
QUITE A DISTANCE. >> I COULD ADD ONE PROJECT THAT
>> I COULD ADD ONE PROJECT THAT WAS JUST RECENTLY COMPLETED IN
WAS JUST RECENTLY COMPLETED IN MY DISTRICT, AND THAT WAS A
MY DISTRICT, AND THAT WAS A ROUNDABOUT AND A NEW BRIDGE, NOT
ROUNDABOUT AND A NEW BRIDGE, NOT A VERY SEXY PROJECT REALLY.
A VERY SEXY PROJECT REALLY. A LOT OF PEOPLE WEREN'T EVEN
A LOT OF PEOPLE WEREN'T EVEN SURE WE NEEDED IT.
SURE WE NEEDED IT. BUT I TELL YOU, THAT IS THE MOST
BUT I TELL YOU, THAT IS THE MOST POPULAR BRIDGE IN TOWN, BECAUSE
POPULAR BRIDGE IN TOWN, BECAUSE IT TAKES CARE OF TRAFFIC AS IT
IT TAKES CARE OF TRAFFIC AS IT WAS INTENDED.
WAS INTENDED. AND THE ROUNDABOUT IS KIND OF
AND THE ROUNDABOUT IS KIND OF FUN, ALTHOUGH THEY DON'T KEEP
FUN, ALTHOUGH THEY DON'T KEEP GOING AROUND, BUT THERE IS A
GOING AROUND, BUT THERE IS A TEMPTATION.
TEMPTATION. IF THE TRAFFIC FLOW AND THE WAY
IF THE TRAFFIC FLOW AND THE WAY THAT THAT BRIDGE IS DIVERTING
THAT THAT BRIDGE IS DIVERTING TRAFFIC IN OUR COMMUNITY, IT WAS
TRAFFIC IN OUR COMMUNITY, IT WAS VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT, I WOULD
VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT, I WOULD SAY.
SAY. THAT WAS PARTLY FUNDED, A LITTLE
THAT WAS PARTLY FUNDED, A LITTLE BIT, BUT NOT MUCH WAS BONDING
BIT, BUT NOT MUCH WAS BONDING MONEY.
MONEY. >> ONE THING THAT I'VE ALWAYS
>> ONE THING THAT I'VE ALWAYS FOUND VERY INTERESTING,HEN
FOUND VERY INTERESTING,HEN WE'RE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WE'RE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, FOR EXAMPLE, AND YOU
MINNESOTA, FOR EXAMPLE, AND YOU GO THROUGH SOME OF THE RESEARCH
GO THROUGH SOME OF THE RESEARCH LABS BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT ONLY
LABS BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT ONLY LOOKING AT THE FACILITY, BUT YOU
LOOKING AT THE FACILITY, BUT YOU LEARN ABOUT SOME OF THE RESEARCH
LEARN ABOUT SOME OF THE RESEARCH PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING ON, AND
PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING ON, AND IT REALLY LETS YOU KNOW WHERE
IT REALLY LETS YOU KNOW WHERE MINNESOTA IS IN TERMS OF BEING
MINNESOTA IS IN TERMS OF BEING AN OUTSTANDING INSTITUTION WITH
AN OUTSTANDING INSTITUTION WITH OUR HIGHER EDUCATION FACILITIES
OUR HIGHER EDUCATION FACILITIES AND THE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION
AND THE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION THAT GO ON.
THAT GO ON. YOU LEARN A