Senate leader says court challenge could mean special session

08/29/2005

The Associated Press

WILLMAR, Minn. — The Senate D-F-L leader says another special session might be necessary.

That’s because of a court challenge to a key piece of legislation that ended the stalemate at the state Capitol this year.

Last week, three tobacco companies announced they would challenge Minnesota’s 75-cent-a-pack health impact fee which went into effect August first.

Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson of Willmar says if the companies win, it would be a big problem for the state because that fee is expected to raise a lot of money for state programs.

Johnson says Minnesota’s 1998 settlement with the tobacco companies barred further state penalties, and the fee appears to violate the agreement.