The DFL-controlled Legislature hit the pause button on a $1 billion bonding bill that Gov. Tim Pawlenty has vowed to veto.

Instead of going to the governor as is typical, the bill will return to the Senate for a “cooling off” period.

“If the governor is serious about negotiating with legislators, this is a chance to show it,” said House Majority Leader Tony Sertich, DFL-Chisholm, on Wednesday night. “We’ll get our answer in the next 24 to 48 hours.”

At a news conference on Tuesday, Gov. Pawlenty dismissed the tactic as gamemanship.

Pawlenty criticized the bonding bill as too large and packed with too many local projects. The governor’s own bonding proposals totaled $685 miillion, but he has indicated he’s willing to consider a slightly larger package.

Sertich said the bill offered by legislators would help create jobs in Minnesota. He added the state would also benefit from low interest rates and low construction bids.”The difference in debt service between our bonding bill and the governor’s proposal is miniscule.”

A number of Range projects would be at risk if Pawlenty carries out his veto threat. Key among them are improvements to area community colleges. Mesabi Range Community and Technical College would receive $8.5 million in the Legislature’s version of the bill, including $5.4 million for an addition to its Eveleth campus to house its millwright program. Currently, the college rents space at Mountain Iron for the class. Mesabi Provost Tina Royer said having their own classrooms will save the district $50,000 annually in operating costs plus provide a better learning experience for students. She added the classroom additions could be utilized for other classes as well.

That project, twice vetoed by the governor in earlier bonding proposals, was included in the governor’s list this year. But Pawlenty didn’t provide other funding for the college, including $3 million to renovate and upgrade classrooms and lab spaces for an engineering program and an additional $900,000 to repair and upgrade heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in the college theater and student services area. The college is also seeking $130,000 to replace a roof.

Other colleges in the Northeast Higher Education District had repair requests in the Minnesota State College and University’s 2010 proposal. Neither legislators nor the governor funded MnSCU’s request in full. Projects would be ranked on a priority list, with funding for those making the cut determined in May.

The House version of the bill includes $60 million for infrastructure and building repairs, about $10 million more than the governor or Senate proposed.

In addition to Mesabi’s repair projects, projects in MnSCU’s request include $1.2 million to replace sprinklers, a ceiling and lighting; $1.286 miillion for Itasca Community College in Grand Rapids to replace building roofs, $2 million for Hibbing Community College to replace heating, ventilation and air conditioning in its Science Building and to replace a fire alarm system, and $328,000 for Rainy River Community College to replace ventilation and for partial rehabilitations of the Humanities Building and gym.

Other Northland projects at risk include $3.7 million for the Chisholm-Hibbing Airport and $3 million to improve amateur sports facilities in the Arrowhead Region, including rehabilitation of the Chisholm Recreational and Health Facility, an addition to the Hibbing Memorial Building and a portion of the funds needed to build an athletic complex in Mountain Iron.

Even if legislators and the governor can settle their differences over bonding proposals, projects will be on hold until the state gets a handle on its budget crisis. Typically, projects can be initiated with temporary funds from the state general fund. But with the state running a shortfall of $1.2 billion, there won’t be money until at least the end of June.

But passing a bonding bill early would allow local units of government start the paperwork needed to proceed with projects and not potentially lose more of the construction season because of paperwork delays.