ST. PAUL — A sudden switch at the Capitol meant one Rochester senator was taken off a key conference committee while another one was put on.
On Thursday afternoon, a news release was sent out announcing Nelson has been appointed to the House-Senate conference committee charged with putting together a construction borrowing bill, also known as a bonding bill. The measure is expected to spend around $1 billion on construction projects against the state.
Nelson was the only Republican to vote for a $1.5 billion bonding bill that failed to pass the Senate. Traditionally, lawmakers must have voted for a bill in order to be placed on a conference committee. A news release issued later in the day said Rochester GOP Sen. Dave Senjem would instead be on the committee.
"I'm disappointed to see that I was not appointed to the conference committee as the lone Republican vote," Nelson said. "At the end of the day, the important thing is what happens in conference committee, that the Rochester projects — as well as the state (projects) in general — but particularly the projects that we've worked on so hard are well represented in conference committee. I will continue to do my job to make sure that's the case."
Several Rochester projects were funded in the Senate bonding bill including $5 million for Rochester International Airport's customs facility upgrade, $20 million for a Rochester Community and Technical College construction project, $1.5 million for The Reading Center/Dyslexia Institute of Minnesota expansion and $1 million for Chester Woods Trail.
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Senjem said he was not aware of Nelson being removed from the conference committee. He said Senate Minority Leader David Hann approached him about the committee and said, "We want you to be on it." Senjem is the lead Republican on the Senate Capital Investment Committee.
Hann could not be reached for comment.
Asked if she thought the decision to appoint her to the committee had anything to do with her bucking her caucus to vote for the Senate DFL's bonding bill, Nelson said she has learned in the Senate "never to assign motives, and I will not do that."
Nelson added she does not regret her yes vote on the bill.
"Am I glad I voted for my district? You bet. That's what I'm elected to do," Nelson said.
