We came into Session around 11:00 this morning and have spent most of the day voting on Conference Committee Reports. The first one, the Environmental and Agricultural Conference Report, took a few hours. One of the more controversial portions of the bill is the fact that funds created to help with long-term oversight of landfills are being emptied. This is concerning because Dakota County has numerous landfills. Some contaminants in landfills can be dangerous to people, animals, and the environment, so it is essential to monitor the landfills. A letter from the Dakota County Board states ” Depleting the funds now could leave the State and local governments dangerously unprepared to safeguard the environment.” I voted no, but the bill did pass. This is one the shifts that the Republican Majority consistently used in their Omnibus bills this year. Money is taken from account and then used to pay for something else. Given the fact that there is still a budget surplus, it makes such actions hard to justify.
The Republican Majority gave up on a comprehensive Transportation Bill, so we passed a “Lights On” version. Highly unusual, particularly when this was to be the Transportation Year.
At 10:35 P.M., we are starting the Legacy Conference Report.
” We also heard the State Government Conference Report.