Hello Scott: I'm Jeff Dehler with Northstar Corridor Development Authority.
I understand your frustration. Northstar is a worthy project that is wanted by a majority of Minnesotans, but it is a political football now. I can't speak for the Governor. I guess he has to do what he feels is right. However, no matter which projects the Governor chooses to line item veto, the residents and legislator from that area will suffer. One way to make a difference is for residents to call their legislator and the leadership in the legislature to demand that Northstar be included so that other worthy projects will not suffer. If you need more information about Northstar, or are looking for help in finding phone numbers for legislators, please go to our web site at www.NorthstarTrain.org. Thanks for your support! Jeff Dehler Northstar Corridor Development Authority Public Information 763-323-5705 [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> Scott Persons <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 05/17/02 09:25AM >>> I had a couple questions for those in the know about the bonding bill that is currently being negotiated at the Legislature. The Gov is very adamant about funding for the Northstar rail from St. Cloud to downtown (I'm a big fan of it too). Of course our farsighted Republican House members have not provided a dime for this project. Now the bonding bill will be subjected to the Governor's line item veto once it is passed and he has been very clear in saying he will veto anything that isn't as important as the North Star line if the Legislature does not provide any funding for it. (I understand 50 million will get us quite a bit of Federal funding to get this project moving) So I'm reading the Strib online this morning and I read that the likely vetoes in this bonding bill are the Guthrie, The Children's Theater, and Planetarium if Northstar money isn't included. Huh?? Correct me if I'm wrong but the Minneapolis delegation is solidly behind Jesse's favorite bonding project, why is the Governor threatening to veto our bonding requests instead of the requests of those holding up Northstar? Now I know about Jesse's long held objection to funding the Guthrie because he thinks it's just entertainment (like a stadium), but I fail to see any strategy in publicly floating our projects as casualties of his veto pen when we want Northstar too. I firmly believe that the Hiawatha rail line will be a boondoggle if we don't link other rail option like Northstar to it quickly. So I'm really wondering what any of us here can do to help the Gov help himself and get this thing funded this session. Any ideas? I'm all out. Scott Persons Lyndale Neighborhood 10-5 _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
