Good morning! It’s Wednesday already!

DFL Gov. Tim Walz said he wants a “robust” bonding bill and the $2.7 billion proposal he announced Tuesday would be the biggest ever, if it actually passes. Republicans, who are key in determining the fate of a bonding bill because it needs a three-fifths vote, said the proposal is too big. Here’s the  story. 

The environment and natural resources finance committee in the Minnesota House held an informational hearing yesterday. The panel got an update on efforts to maintain several Twin Cities landfills. Lawmakers also discussed the trust that helps make such work possible. 

The Biden administration says a whole bunch of N95 masks are going to be distributed across the country. They’ll be free.

The Capitol View interviews Brian Bakst has done over the past week with Republican governor candidates end with Sen. Michelle Benson. (Watch for a step-back story later this week.) Benson is familiar with a statewide campaign, having run for lieutenant governor in 2014. But like fellow legislator Paul Gazelka, she’ll have her hands full in coming months as she juggles session and the campaign. Some interview excerpts.

Benson stepped down last week as chair of a critical committee after giving up another leadership position last year. She explained why: “It is really important that that chair, especially the Health and Human Services chair, be able to do good policy without always putting it through a political filter. And the press would, my opponents would and our caucus would. So the best thing I could do for the folks in Health and Human Services is to make sure that it doesn't get confused with the governor's race.”

Leaving that job means she won’t preside over confirmation hearings into Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm, who many Republicans want removed. Add Benson to the list.

 “If the new chair brings it up, I would be a no on her confirmation.”

 Benson said she recently confronted Malcolm over the process for prioritizing medication to fight severe COVID-19 illness.

“When she started distributing monoclonal antibodies based on race, it went a bridge too far. And that is the most firmly I have ever spoken with her. I was greatly disappointed.”

Benson says fulfilling her elected role will remain a priority even as the campaign heats up. 

“I still need to do my day job. I'm the only person that can push that button. And I'm still going to be sitting on the Health and Human Services and the Health Reform Committee. I'll still be sitting on the full Finance Committee because I can't just walk away from a responsibility that I've accepted.” 

Besides, she said she’s used to having multiple balls in the air.

“Weekends will be packed. That’s fine. Evenings will be packed. You have to remember, unlike the other people in this race, I was Health and Human Services chair and deputy majority leader and I had a small child. This is what my calendar looks like. It’s normal for me to have to balance all of these things.”

Benson says to expect an early selection of a running mate to split the load.

“I'd like somebody who came with their own passion, so that when they're in the office and they have access to the resources that is our state government they can champion some part of Minnesota – if it is a business ambassador, if it's somebody who's working on education reform, somebody who's working on improving public safety. There are sincere, difficult challenges ahead of this state. And to have someone who's talented and capable and passionate about one of those challenges would be my ideal candidate.”

NOTE: Find links to material from prior interviews on  Brian’s Twitter page. Former Sen. Scott Jensen declined an interview request.