Pawlenty won't veto MN construction projects bill
by The Associated Press & Terry Lee, WJON.com

ST. PAUL -- Gov. Tim Pawlenty is withdrawing his threat to reject a $1 billion construction projects bill.

The Republican governor now says he can work with the current proposal from House-Senate negotiators
 
Pawlenty says it just may need "a little trimming."

The governor can remove individual projects using his line-item veto.

Earlier, Democrats pulled back a different version of the package when Pawlenty threatened to veto the whole thing. They then added in Pawlenty's top priorities, although they aren't putting as much money as he wanted toward expanding the state sex offender treatment complex in Moose Lake.

The bonding bill includes more than $60 million in St. Cloud area projects, including a science lab for St. Cloud State University and money for the expansion of the St. Cloud Civic Center.