Public hearing today on bonding bill that failed during legislative session

State lawmakers take public comment this afternoon on the just-under $1-billion bonding bill for state construction projects that failed in the final seconds of the 2016 legislative session.  The objective is to revive the bill, but Governor Mark Dayton says he won’t call a special session until Republican leaders agree to include certain bonding projects and other programs he wants. Republicans say Dayton is refusing to compromise. Dayton says he wants negotiating leverage that he didn’t have in the flurry of activity that ended the regular session. The two sides have nearly finished a one-week “cooling off” period and are expected to meet again tomorrow.