House debates environment and energy finance bill into the night
The House after passing its higher ed and agriculture and veterans bills today (April 22) took up the environment and energy finance bill and worked into the evening.
As of 9:30 p.m., House Republicans were having limited success in amending bill.
Under the bill, the Minnesota Zoo takes a five percent cut, though dollars from the lottery fund are directed towards the zoo.
A bill from Rep. Tom Hackbarth, R-Cedar, is in the legislation. It requires nonresidents to pay a $20 fee to use state or grant-in-aid all-terrain vehicle trails.
There’s a yard waste provision that has starting in 2010 the metro area being regulated in the use of plastic bags used for yard waste. The idea is to move the metro to using compostable bags, as plastic bags can make compost unusable, it’s argued.
The bag legislation was carried in the House by Rep. Paul Gardner, DFL-Shoreview.
Legislation carried by Rep. Jeremy Kalin, DFL-North Branch, creating a framework for appropriating some $200 million in federal stimulus dollars for state energy projects is in the bill. The largest chunk of this money, some $132 million, is slated for the weatherization assistance program for weatherizing homes across the state.
The also includes legislation authored by Rep. Bob Dettmer, R-Forest Lake, concerning state park passes for vets.
Also another local lawmaker, Rep. Phil Sterner, DFL-Rosemount, has a provision pertaining to waste management reporting.
Rep. Rick Hansen, DFL-South St. Paul, has a provision pertaining to DNR gift cards.
The House is expected to take up the K-12 finance bill, among others, tomorrow.
