Sesquicentennial bills OK’d

Nearly 150 years after the fighting ended, the American Civil War and Dakota Conflict are back in the news.

Two bills that would provide a total of $30,000 for special radio programming about the disputes were laid over March 14 by the House Legacy Funding Division for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.

Rep. Paul Torkelson (R-Nelson Township) sponsors HF2830 and HF2831 that would provide for the funding. Neither bill has a Senate companion.

Both bills would use funding from the Legacy Amendment’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. HF2830 would appropriate $15,000 to the Association of Minnesota Public Educational Radio Stations for programming to commemorate the conflicts.

HF2831 would provide $15,000 to Minnesota Public Radio for the same purpose.

The action on Torkelson’s bills follows the March 13 layover of two other bills regarding the conflicts.

Those bills, sponsored by Rep. Dean Urdahl (R-Grove City), are HF2653 and HF2832. Neither has a Senate companion.

HF2653 would appropriate $100,000 to the Minnesota Historical Society for activities surrounding the sesquicentennial.

HF2832 would funnel $50,000 to the Minnesota Public Television Association to complete two documentaries about the events and create a website that could be used for educational purposes.