The Minnesota House gave its OK to a $949 million bonding bill before adjourning for the Easter holiday. The bill is the result of many months of work by legislators and committees on behalf of several hundred projects that were submitted for our consideration. The bill contains a few projects of local interest, most notably wastewater infrastructure funding for the city of Watkins as it looks to overhaul its wastewater system. The exact amount that the city will get will be determined later by the United States Department of Agriculture. The House bill does not contain money for Greenleaf State Park, but the Senate bill contains a $1 million rider for the project that will be considered in the conference committee after the holiday break. The bill is an overall good balance between the various infrastructure priorities the state needs to address. It provides more than $300 million for higher education buildings and laboratories, $100 million for DNR projects, and strong investments in local bridge replacements and local road improvement grants. It passed the House on an overwhelming majority. When this year’s agriculture bill is released this week it will contain a proposal I brought forth last year to protect restaurants from lawsuits stemming from people who become obese after eating their food. “The cheeseburger bill” as it is known protects restaurants and food producers from paying the price for someone’s irresponsible eating habits. Another ag issue that will be prominent in the second half of the session is the Dairy Investment Tax Credit. Because it involves taxes, it will be considered as part of our overall tax bill, which could also include a property tax relief plan and a repeal of the marriage tax penalty. At this halfway point of the session I would like to thank those of you who have taken the time to contact me so far this session. I’m always available to anyone. My phone numbers are 651-296-4344 or 1-800-920-5861. If you prefer e-mail, my address is rep.dean.urdahl@house.mn. I look forward to hearing from you.
Dean Urdahl (R-Grove City) serves House District 18B, which includes most of the Annandale-South Haven area.
