The 2014 Session is shaping up to be a wild ride. A February 25th starting date coupled with aggressive committee deadlines has required everyone to hit the ground running. With the first two weeks in the books, I wanted to provide a quick update.
As we all know, this winter has been a rough one, particularly for northern Minnesota. While it feels like we may have turned the corner with the weather, consistent cold temperatures took their toll on the Low Income Heating Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Some estimates concluded that the fund would run out of money as soon as early March, which meant quick action was needed. I chief authored the relief bill and was able to work with my colleagues in the Senate and the House to suspend the rules and push this emergency action through both bodies. As a result, we added $20 million to the assistance program. This is funding that will supplement the program, not replace federal funding.
In addition to the propane shortage, northern Minnesota is facing a challenge from terrestrial invasive species. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has proposed a Gypsy Moth quarantine for Lake County and Cook County to restrict the movement of potentially infested items and thereby contain the spread of the pest. Minnesota will be the 21st state to be at least partially quarantined for Gypsy Moth. The goal is to prevent the human-assisted spread of Gypsy Moth from known infested areas to non-infested areas.
This is a bill that will appropriate money to the University of Minnesota Board of Regents to develop and support a terrestrial invasive species (TIS) research center. The Center will develop new techniques to control the spread of TIS.
This is a very real problem, and will require an investment from the state in order to turn the tide against these pests. As we’ve done in the fight with aquatic invasive species, funding a research center at the University of Minnesota is the best way to foster innovative approaches to this complex problem. I will continue to work tirelessly and introduce legislation to ensure that we continue to promote healthy, sustainable, multi-use forests, defend the jobs provided by the wood products industry, and protect our way of life in northern Minnesota.
In the coming weeks we will work to provide tax relief for businesses and working families, pass a supplemental budget, and craft a bonding bill to fund infrastructure projects across the state. Both the House and Senate passed bills to raise the minimum wage last session, and a conference committee has been formed this year to work out the differences in their bills.
