Weekly Land Stewardship Project Capitol Update
March 18, 2007
Success! Legislation to Weaken Local Control is Pulled
Your calls and e-mails made a big difference and House File 1254, which weakened local control, this past week was pulled from consideration for the rest of the legislative session. Rep. Ken Tschumper played a leadership role in making this happen. Rep. Tschumper is Vice Chair of the Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs Committee, and a strong advocate for local control. He called a meeting in his office involving the proposers of the bill (building and development interests), as well as those concerned about its impacts on local government, including the Land Stewardship Project, Clean Water Action, the Minnesota Environmental Partnership and lobbyists for local governments. Rep. Tschumper led a debate on the bill and the proposers agreed to come up with language to address our concerns. Later in the week they agreed to pull the bill completely.
Senate Higher Ed Finance Committee & Ag Finance Committee Fund LSP's Priorities
The Senate Higher Ed Omnibus Finance bill would fund organic research and outreach in the University of Minnesota's Agricultural Experiment Station system and would also provide funding for alternative livestock outreach and research at the University's Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA). As it stands now, the proposed legislation provides $1 million a year for two years (we requested $1.25 million year for both initiatives).
Several Senators worked hard to make this happen and deserve our thanks: Sen. Sandy Pappas, Chair of the Higher Education Budget and Policy and Budget Division Committee; Sen. Kathy Sheran, Vice Chair of the Committee and author of the bill to fund MISA's alternative livestock work; and Sen. Sharon Erickson Ropes, author of the bill to fund organic research.
The Ag Omnibus Finance Bill as it stands would fund the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's Energy and Sustainable Ag Grant Program at $210,000 a year (we requested $250,000). The program was funded at $80,000 last year. The bill funds the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's organic cost share program at $150,000 a year (we requested $275,000 a year). It was funded at $50,000 last year. In addition, Sen. Gary Kubly was able to secure funding for MISA to coordinate and guide research into perennial cropping systems for biofuels. This is funded at $750,000 the first year and $1 million for the second year. Overall, this is a good funding package for organic and sustainable agriculture.
Senators working on the Ag Omnibus Finance Bill that deserve our thanks include: Sen. Jim Vickerman, Chair of the Agriculture and Veterans Budget and Policy Division Committee and author of the bill to fund the Department of Agriculture's Energy and Sustainable Ag Grant Program; Sen. Tony Lourey, author of the organic cost share bill; and Sen. Gary Kubly, who is leading the way on creating biofuels from perennial crops.
House to Create Funding Bills Next Week
The House Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Finance Division Committee and the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division Committee will create their omnibus funding bills next week. It is through these bills that our organic and sustainable ag initiatives need to be funded on the House side. We need the House to include and fund these proposals at levels at least as high as the Senate's.
Call the members of the House Higher Ed Finance Committee listed below and ask them to include an additional $1.1 million a year to fund organic agriculture research at the U of M Ag Experiment Station as outlined in Rep. Tschumper's bill (H.F. 844), and to provide $150,000 in additional funding for alternative livestock research and outreach to MISA within the Experiment Station as found in Rep. David Bly's bill (H.F. 845). Let them know that the Senate has made a similar effort in its Higher Ed Omnibus Finance Bill for both initiatives.
Key members of the Higher Ed Finance Committee:
Vice Chair: Rep. Jeanne Poppe, 651-296-4193
Rep. Larry Haws, 651-296-6612
Rep. Andy Welti, 651-296-4378
Rep. Melissa Hortman, 651-296-4280
Rep. Kathy Brynaert, 651-296-3248
Rep. Frank Moe, 651-296-5516
Rep. Linda Slocum, 651-296-7158
Call these additional members if you have time:
Chair: Rep. Tom Rukavina, 651-296-0170
GOP Lead Work Force, Rep. Bob Gunther, 651-296-3240
GOP Lead Higher Ed, Rep. Bud Nornes 651-296-4946
Rep. Joe Atkins, 651-296-4192
Rep. David Bly, 651-296-7065
Rep. Karen Clark, 651-296-0294
Rep. Bob Dettmer, 651-296-4124
Rep. Rob Eastlund, 651-296-5364
Rep. Tim Mahoney, 651-296-4277
Rep. Carol McFarlane, 651-296-5363
Rep. Kim Norton, 651-296-9249
Rep. Connie Ruth, 651-296-5368
Rep. Dan Severson, 651-296-7808
Ex-officio, Rep. Mary Murphy, 651-296-2676
Meet With Your Legislator About LSP's Priorities
There is no better way to get the support of legislators for LSP's agenda then for them to hear from you. If you have time, consider coming up to the Capitol in Saint Paul and meeting with your Representative and Senator. Paul Sobocinski or I can be there with you and meet with you beforehand to answer any questions you have about our proposals before you present them to your legislators.
— Bobby King, Land Stewardship Project
For more information:
Bobby King, e-mail: bking@landstewardshipproject.org; office phone: 612-722-6377; cell phone: 507-450-7258
Paul Sobocinski, e-mail: sobopaul@redred.com; cell phone: 507-430-1509
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