Dear Neighbor,
We are working through a wide range of bills this week as we await resolution on some headline legislation in the final stretch of the 2014 session.
A bonding bill that would fund statewide projects remains in the works, as does a second supplemental tax bill of the session. In the meantime, we are bringing other bills to the floor for final passage, including legislation I authored to help our area by improving the way we decide routes for high-voltage transmission lines.
My bill stipulates that during the routing process for high-voltage transmission lines that a preferred route is not designated. This would allow that a minimum of two alternative routes be identified during the permitting process, with none being selected as a preferred route.
The issue has been that property owners adjacent to one of the alternative routes can get lulled into a false sense of security, thinking that the preferred route will be chosen and, consequently, do not get involved in the process. This change will allow for more openness and citizen participation in deciding where to set these high-voltage lines.
The bill was in response to issues that have arisen as the CAPX 2020 high voltage transmission line is established in central Minnesota. Many District 13A landowners – and others throughout the region – affected by the CAPX 2020 project supported the legislation. It passed both the House and Senate without opposition and has been presented to the governor for his signature.
A number of other bills also have come to the House for final passage, including legislation to clean up obsolete laws related to employment (HF2948), and prohibiting online lottery ticket sales and play at the gas pump (SF2642).
As for the bonding bill, it is disappointing how it appears to be shaping up as yet another piece of metro-centric legislation which, in some cases, puts wants over needs. Essential water and public-works projects for area towns like Cold Spring appear to be headed for the cutting-room floor, as does a roadway project in Collegeville. I will continue to fight for inclusion of these projects in the final bill.
Meantime, the majority may put $20 million toward Nicollet Mall and $50 million for the Bell Museum in Minneapolis. Meantime, they cut by two-thirds a military affairs bonding request that would fund statewide programs.
Another bill we passed this week would assist former military law enforcement personnel in their search for a job as a state peace officer. Under current state law, a former member of the military police can take a reciprocity examination to become a full-time peace officer in Minnesota if the veteran served in military law enforcement for five years. As most enlistments are either two or four years, a soldier would actually have to re-enlist in order to meet this statewide standard. The House bill would change this requirement from five years to four. While the change does not guarantee licensure for the veteran, it does give them the right to take the reciprocity examination after four years. That change alone makes it easier for law enforcement agencies to recruit these highly qualified and talented individuals. This bill now heads to the Senate.
On yet another military note, we continue working to advance a bill that would help veterans rejoin the citizen workforce.
I’ll keep you posted as these and other things shake out in the final days of the session. We are scheduled to adjourn no later than May 19.
Good luck,
Jeff