Special session underway

09/11/2007

Legislature begins evening-long special session on disaster relief for flood-stricken southeastern Minnesota.


By Mark Brunswick
Star Tribune
September 11, 2007


The Minnesota Legislature has begun what should be an unusually concise and disciplined special session on disaster relief that is expected to end tonight with $157 million in disaster relief bill for flood-ravaged southeastern Minnesota.

Gaveling in at 5 p.m., legislators were expected to approve the package sometime tonight. What will be missing, however, is any notable state funding for the other tragedy that struck Minnesota last month -- the collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge, much of which remains in the Mississippi River. Legislative committees met throughout the day to prepare for tonight's floor session, while top aides for Gov. Tim Pawlenty and legislative leaders tweaked details.

The bill is expected to total $218.5 million and will include authorization to spend $55 million advanced by the federal government for I-35W recovery and cleanup costs, but there will be no additional funding to repair other structurally deficient bridges.

Brian McClung, Pawlenty's spokesman, blamed the absence of broader transportation funding on DFLers. "The real reason transportation discussions were reaching an impasse is due to the DFL's insistence on massive tax hikes to fund big, urban transit projects," McClung said Tuesday. "The governor fought to protect suburban and greater Minnesota taxpayers from the DFL's overreaching tax increases."

Another $6.1 million will assist with recovery efforts from other recent disasters, including forest fires in Cook County, flooding in Browns Valley and Crookston, and drought relief for farmers.

The flood relief portion will begin the arduous task of reconstructing washed-out roads and bridges, repairing storm sewers, restoring wastewater and drinking water systems and helping businesses get back on their feet.

Sen. Sharon Erickson Ropes, DFL-Winona, said the aid comes not a moment too soon.

"These people have nothing," said Erickson Ropes, whose district includes much of the flooded area. "We're real resilient people. We may be homeless. Carless. Clothesless. Jobless. But we are not hopeless."

The bill will be voted on first by the House, then the Senate. With few elected officials willing to vote against emergency disaster relief, the measure is expected to pass by considerable margins.

But debate over the legislation could stretch into the night, with some legislators using the occasion to bemoan lost opportunities, including those for a gas tax increase to fund bridge repairs and local government aid.

Earlier today, advocates for a comprehensive transportation bill talked about the need to address the broad transportation funding needs that became a focus after the I-35W collapse in August.

Among the provisions in the bill were tax abatements for affected communities and loans that would be forgiven or deferred for businesses and residents who remain in the area -- an incentive to stem depopulation. Money also will be appropriated to hire local residents for cleanup and reconstruction.

Flood-damaged state parks and trails also will come in for a share of disaster relief, including $250,000 for clean-up and replace damaged historic structures. About $2 million will go to help livestock producers who lost forage or other feed because of flood or drought.

The Republican governor called tonight's session after reaching an agreement with DFL House and Senate leaders to limit its scope. Only the governor can call a special session, but once he does, only legislators can end it.

Before reaching an accord, Pawlenty and Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller sparred for weeks over what to include and whether to use cash reserves or borrowing to pay for the package.

On Monday, Pogemiller sent Pawlenty a letter saying he would not fight the matter, paving the way for Pawlenty to call today's session.

The total package uses $68 million from the state's general fund, $55 million in general obligation bonds, $58 million in trunk highway funding, and $20 million in trunk highway bonds.

Despite the agreement among Pawlenty and legislative leaders about limits, there was some indication today that property tax relief might bubble up during tonight's floor session. In a news conference this afternoon, House Majority Leader Tony Sertich, DFL-Chisholm, said property tax relief was being discussed in ongoing talks, but could not predict whether it would enter into any final agreement. Cities and counties across Minnesota lost state aid in the last session when Pawlenty vetoed the 2007 tax bill and some local governments will face double-digit property tax increases without it. Pawlenty appeared concerned enough about a breach in the agreement that he sent another letter just as the session was getting underway.

"I am hopeful you share my belief that a deal is a deal," Pawlenty wrote. "The integrity of the process and my willingness to call special sessions depends on the willingness of members to respect the bipartisan agreements reached as a condition for convening the session."