To justify any state funding, backers of the planned Albert Lea business incubator will have to demonstrate a statewide benefit, said Gov.

Tuesday, July 03, 2001

To justify any state funding, backers of the planned Albert Lea business incubator will have to demonstrate a statewide benefit, said Gov. Jesse Ventura spokesman John Wodele.

&uot;Basically, that’s what it came down to,&uot; Wodele said Monday. &uot;With any project like that, the governor is looking for benefits to go beyond the local community.&uot;

Gov. Ventura vetoed the measure Saturday, eliminating the $100,000 appropriation from the jobs and economic development bill. In a letter to House and Senator leaders, Ventura said money for remodeling a industrial park facility was a local project that serves no clear statewide need.

But Sen. Grace Schwab, R-Albert Lea, said economic development, especially in Greater Minnesota, should be a top priority for the state.

&uot;I understand that Gov. Ventura is not from this area, and maybe he doesn’t’ realize the importance of fostering the economy of Greater Minnesota cities,&uot; Schwab said. &uot;But I do wish he had taken the opportunity to talk to me or other local residents before slashing a relatively small amount of money for a project that could make a big difference.&uot;

Schwab said she will continue to support long-term economic development projects in her district and hopes to submit another funding request in the next session.

Educating the governor about how economic development works in rural Minnesota may give a second funding request a better chance of avoiding a veto, said Rep. Dan Dorman, R-Albert Lea.

&uot;Maybe the governor will look more kindly on the proposal if it’s in the bonding bill,&uot; Dorman said. &uot;I’ll keep plugging away.&uot;

Wodele defended Ventura’s decision, saying the line-item veto is a powerful tool used to ensure wise spending of state money.

&uot;Without that option, you would get a lot more local projects getting funded inappropriately by the state,&uot; Wodele said.