By Rep. Paul Anderson
As the calendar turns to April, action concerning budget issues heat up at the Capitol. Finance divisions will work long hours this week, putting in place their respective spending plans for the next two years.
In the Agriculture and Food Finance Division, extra time has been allocated as we debate once again all the bills that were “laid over for possible inclusion.” The spending target for the ag budget has been increased by just over $7 million from the previous base, so any increases in spending will have to be carefully prioritized.
I have requested an additional $1 million for milk purchases by the state for distribution to Second Harvest Heartland and food shelves around the state. I also have a bill that would compensate dairy farmers for instituting conservation practices on their farms. It’s similar to legislation carried by Chair Jean Poppe, but both bills carry fairly large price tags so their fate is not known. The governor’s budget proposal didn’t include any additional payments for those in the dairy industry and, when asked, Deputy Commissioner Andrea Vaubel said they were waiting to see what the Legislature came up with in that regard. Well, we’ll find out this week what happens in that area.
There has also been discussion in other committees concerning those here in this country without proper documentation. There have been requests in past years to allow that group to obtain Minnesota drivers licenses. The argument is that they are driving to their jobs anyway, and allowing them to be licensed would make our roads safer. Those in favor of illegals getting drivers licenses have picked up a few key allies this time around such as the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and Agri-Growth.
However, the bill currently making its way through the process does more than simply give those who are undocumented the privilege to drive. It also sets them up as a sort of “protected class” and doesn’t allow their information to be shared between law enforcement agencies at various levels of government. It seems to me that this is very close to making our state a sanctuary, and that’s something I’m totally opposed to. We’ll watch how that legislation progresses and what its final form turns out to be. It will probably pass in the House, but I don’t see this as something the Senate would be in favor of.
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Someone from western Iowa was in my office last week, and we got around to discussing the flooding situation in that state, as well as in neighboring Nebraska. She said it wasn’t too bad where she lived, but that the devastation in the Cornhusker state was unbelievable. Roads and rail beds have been washed out, buildings and grain bins have been severely damaged or destroyed, and livestock losses are staggering. To make matters even worse, in some areas several feet of topsoil were washed away by the swiftly moving flood waters. And left in its place is sand, gravel, silt and muck, along with assorted debris deposited by the water. Fences and gates are gone, and the cattle that survived need feed, but most of that, too, has been damaged or destroyed.
I saw a clip on Facebook over the weekend showing a convoy of tractor-trailers hauling hay passing through Dickinson, N.D., on their way to the areas in need of assistance. Those big rigs were followed by pickups pulling trailers containing fencing supplies to help their fellow ranchers begin the process of putting their operations and their lives back together again.
On each of the loads of hay attached somewhere was an American flag. The spirit in this country of folks rolling up their sleeves and helping those in need is remarkable, and it makes me proud to be a farmer and an American! It was suggested that anyone wanting to help out with cash donations could contact either the Iowa or Nebraska Farm Bureau.
Rep. Anderson may be reached at his legislative office by emailing rep.paul.anderson@house.mn or by calling (651) 296-4317.
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