By Rep. Paul Anderson
Highly anticipated supplemental spending targets were released late last week by House Republicans. While this is not a budget year, many requests for additional funding have been made this year because of our anticipated $900 million surplus. We in the House have chosen to hold targets to a net-zero spending level and will dedicate the surplus money to transportation and tax reductions. In that way, we can provide the most tax relief possible, in addition to increasing funds for roads and bridges without any gas tax increase.
There will be modest increases in some areas. Broadband is one example, as we must expand high speed service to more areas of Greater Minnesota. In addition to an influx of federal money for high speed internet, the state will continue its Border to Border Broadband program and provide funding in addition to the $10 million allocated last year. Our proposal this year is in the $20 to $30 million range.
As mentioned, there will be reductions in other areas, with agriculture being one of them. Slightly less than $2 million will be reduced from ag. I must point out, however, that this area saw an increase of more than 40 percent last year in the baseline, two-year budget. Much of that went for work in the area of Avian Flu, with another significant amount slated for new research in the field of agriculture. Several million dollars remain in the bird flu account, and thankfully, no new cases have developed this year. It’s hoped that we can re-purpose some of those remaining dollars, while making disease outbreaks such as was experienced last year eligible for the state’s disaster fund.
The Senate is expected to announce its targets this week, and there are likely to be major differences in spending priorities. They have shown more support for early education programs, in addition to an increase in the gas tax. Once both bodies have made their plans public, the spending bills can be put together and the negotiations will start.
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A group of 18 cities and sanitary districts from outstate Minnesota have filed a petition with the state's Pollution Control Agency in hopes of amending the recently adopted water quality standards for rivers and streams. According to a release from the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, the rulemaking petition is authorized under state law because new evidence showing scientific tests, upon which the standards partially rely, are not supported by the EPA or based on peer reviewed science. The concern is that MPCA could require cities and sanitary districts to pay for expensive upgrades that may fail to actually improve and protect water quality. The petition seeks to amend, not repeal, the rules.
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Winter coats and stocking caps were the norm these past few days for any outdoor activity. High winds seemingly every day have some talking about drought conditions this summer. I worked up a field and planted wheat over the weekend, and Saturday’s strong southerly winds were followed by equally strong winds the next day out of the north. The soil, when worked, becomes fine and almost turns into a powdery texture in some places. Moisture will be needed soon to settle things down and replenish the soil. The planting of corn and sugar beets will not begin in earnest until temps warm up, which will probably occur later this week.
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