By Dan Sparks, State Senator

With just over one week left until the Legislature is required to adjourn for the year, business at the Capitol is beginning to move very quickly.

On Thursday, the Senate had an opportunity to pass a bonding bill that would have brought revenue and jobs to every corner of Minnesota. Unfortunately, Senate Republicans allowed end-of-session politics to interfere with the chance to stimulate the state’s economy, and the Senate bonding package fell two votes short of passing.

Capital investment bills rely on the sale of state bonds to finance the capital costs of construction projects on everything from college campus buildings to bridges and bike trails throughout the state.

This allows the state to receive a large return in the form of new jobs and improved infrastructure without relying heavily on taxpayer dollars. With interest rates at an all-time low and the need for new jobs always increasing, passage of a bonding bill this year was seen as a winning prospect for Minnesotans &045; a way to help bring new life to Minnesota’s economy.

Instead of setting politics aside in order to bring life to Minnesota’s economy, however, 29 Senate Republicans let their partisan loyalties interfere and voted against the bonding bill &045;

bill that included millions of dollars for college campuses, flood mitigation, parks and trails, and even a World War II memorial.

Locally, I worked hard to make sure appropriations for updated science labs at Riverland Community College and for the Blazing Star and Shooting Star Trail expansions would be part of the bonding bill.

Also included was funding for the development of a Regional Public Safety Training Center in Rochester, which would serve most Southern Minnesota public safety offices.

Money also was dedicated for Albert Lea library improvements and for local bridge projects, but unfortunately, all of this was lost when

Republicans cast their political agenda in the way of serving the people of Minnesota.

The defeat of the bonding bill was a low-point of the week, but there was some progress to be celebrated.

On Wednesday, a bill I authored that extends a ban on phosphorous fertilizer use across the state passed the Senate unanimously.

Phosphorous use has been linked to the increased algae growth that turns our lakes and rivers green.

This bill will help protect Minnesota’s best resources from being further contaminated.

Another bill I carried this year, relating to the Gopher State One-Call &uot;call before you dig&uot; system, was signed by the Governor on Thursday. A representative from Austin Utilities who was very involved with the legislation joined me in the Governor’s Reception Room for the formal bill-signing ceremony.

Finally, a much-anticipated proposal to allow Austin’s Comforcare Good Samaritan Center to increase its bed capacity in order to create a much-needed Alzheimer special-care unit received unanimous committee support.

The bill is expected to be heard on the Senate floor next week and, hopefully, signed by the Governor soon after.

Most people in the Austin community have seen how hard Comforcare representatives have been working on this request in the past few years, so I am very happy to see the project coming so close to being a reality.

There is only a week left of this year’s Legislative session but there still is much to be decided.

As we continue to work toward final solutions, please do not hesitate to contact me with questions or concerns.

I can be reached at 651-296-9248 or 507-438-2898; G-24 State Capitol, St. Paul, MN 55155; or at

sen.dan.sparks@senate.mn,&uot; where you may also request my weekly e-mail newsletter.

(Dan Sparks is a state senator who represents Albert Lea.)