ST. PAUL, MN – Yesterday, Governor Mark Dayton announced that he reached an agreement with legislative leaders on the terms of a Special Session, which has been scheduled to begin at 10:00am on Monday, September 9 and conclude no later than 7:00am on Tuesday, September 10.
The Special Session will deal solely with approving $4.5 million in state disaster aid for 18 southern and central Minnesota counties hit hard by storms in June. Per the agreement among legislative leaders, no other bills or amendments are to be allowed.
President Barack Obama signed a disaster relief declaration in July. However, to get federal funds that would pay for 75 percent of repair costs for damaged roads, bridges, buildings and other public infrastructure, the state of Minnesota must commit to paying 25 percent.
Rep. Jeanne Poppe (DFL—Austin) will be the chief author of the bill that appropriates the disaster relief. She released the following statement in response to yesterday’s announcement.
“I’m pleased that DFLers and Republicans will continue our proud history of working together in a bipartisan manner to deliver disaster relief funds. Regardless of how we differ on other issues, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle can all agree that nothing should prevent our government from helping Minnesotans when they’ve been hit by a storm, flood, or other natural disaster.”
Rep. Poppe represents a portion of Freeborn County, which is one of the 18 Minnesota counties eligible for disaster relief. The other counties include Benton, Big Stone, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, McLeod, Morrison, Pope, Sibley, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Traverse and Wilkin.
Constituents with questions or comments can reach Rep. Poppe by phone at (651) 296-4193, by email at rep.jeanne.poppe@house.mn, or by postal mail at 487 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155.