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Most of omnibus bill gets signed (new law)

Published (5/15/2009)
By Lee Ann Schutz
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The omnibus environment and energy finance bill made it past the governor mostly intact.

The law to fund parks, museums, zoos and renewable energy initiatives, as well as implement new rules for debt settlement managers, was signed May 7 by Gov. Tim Pawlenty minus a provision regarding surface water assessments.

Pawlenty vetoed a $15 million biennial appropriation from the environmental fund targeted for surface water assessment and monitoring. His budget recommendation calls for the activity to be funded from the Clean Water Fund, using the newly dedicated sales tax, which is a result of a constitutional amendment passed last November to fund outdoor and arts programming.

He said the environmental fund will be nearly insolvent in the “not too distant future,” and funding through the Clean Water Fund will provide long-term fiscal stability for the program.

Sponsored by Rep. Jean Wagenius (DFL-Mpls) and Sen. Ellen Anderson (DFL-St. Paul), most of the law takes effect July 1, 2009.

HF2123*/SF2099/CH37

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