Suit to stop Senate office building construction to be appealed

This is a rendering of the proposed Legislative Office Building to be built next to the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul. (Courtesy of Minnesota Department of Administration)

A former state lawmaker said Monday that he will appeal a decision from earlier this month that threw out his suit seeking to stop construction of a new state Senate office building near the Capitol.

Former state Rep. Jim Knoblach said he'll ask for an expedited review by the Minnesota Supreme Court of the ruling Feb. 7 by Ramsey County District Judge Lezlie Marek.

Knoblach contends the authorization for the $63 million building and $27 million parking ramp should not have been included in the tax bill, but Marek found the building project and tax bill were sufficiently linked and dismissed Knoblach's suit.

The project has been a partisan lightning rod at the Capitol, with the Democratic majority arguing it will provide needed space for senators displaced by renovations to the Capitol, and Republicans arguing it's too expensive and hasn't received enough public scrutiny.

The project needs approval in the House Rules Committee in order to proceed.

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Suit to stop Senate office building construction to be appealed