Sen. Johnson was excused
Sen. Debbie Johnson, R-Ham Lake, was excused yesterday (April 20) from the Senate starting in the afternoon. Johnson was one of two senators not voting during the public safety finance bill debate and the presiding Senate officer indicated that Johnson had not been excused.
A Senate staffer later said Johnson was sick, which was reported, after a phone call to her Senate office did not elicit a response.
Johnson today said she has asthma, had been sick and also excused. Johnson, who serves on the Senate Tax Committee, was not at the hearing this morning when the Senate tax bill was presented.
In other matters, the Senate economic development bill contains $350,000 in one-time funding to the City of Hugo for tornado relief. Gov. Tim Pawlenty did not include the appropriation in his budget.
The Senate provision allows the City of Hugo to reimburse Oneka Elementary School up to $7,800 for costs attributable to the recent tornado.
