OMNIBUS BILLS

Before our "spring break" (filled with snow, sleet and freezing temps), committees were meeting almost around the clock - from 7:30 a.m. to as late as midnight, every day. At one point, I had three committee meetings to attend - at the same time - while I had two other bills on the agenda in two other committees. Every legislator was working overtime and then some to get each of our bills heard, and hopefully passed, before the finance committee deadline of April 2.

CELLULOSIC ETHANOL STUDY in Chisago County

One good example is my bill for an East Central Minnesota Cellulosic Ethanol feasibility study. The bill, House File 1664, was initially heard in the Energy Committee, where it was passed and moved to the Agriculture Finance Committee. In the Ag. Finance Committee, the bill was laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus Ag. Finance bill. Our initial funding request was for $300,000 to work with the University of Minnesota to study the prairie grass, woody biomass, and other cellulosic resources available in Chisago County (and Isanti and Pine Counties) to provide bio-energy or bio-fuels like ethanol.

In the end, when Chair Al Juhnke looked at all 6 projects proposed to study ramping up cellulosic ethanol production, he saw an opportunity to review the new opportunities much more efficiently. Ultimately, the University of Minnesota's Institute for Renewable Energy and the Environment would share a $1,200,000 grant with 6 different entities around the state to study cellulosic ethanol production - in Roseau, Mahnomen, Lake, Sherburn, Scott and Chisago Counties. 6 different bioregions, with 6 different soil types and available plant material.

My work now is not to hop from committee to committee, but to carefully "babysit" important projects like the cellulosic ethanol bill as the Omnibus Bills are heard in the umbrella money committees: Finance, Taxes, and Ways and Means. The Ag. Finance Bill (HF 2227) has now been sent to the House Floor, after making it through all 3 umbrella committees, and the great news is that our Cellulosic Ethanol grant is still in the bill!

Starting on Tuesday, we'll vote on these bills on the House Floor. If need be, I will advocate strongly for inclusion in the final bill, and will oppose any amendment to strip the funding from the bill.

CHISAGO COUNTY NURSING HOME RATE INCREASE

In another omnibus bill, the Health and Human Services Omnibus Bill (HF 297), Chisago Counties nursing homes would receive a long overdue rate increase. Parmly Senior Center director Mary Cordts made an impassioned appeal to the Health and Human Services Finance Committee, explaining that Chisago County was promised a rate increase for nursing homes several years ago, but a last-minute deal left us out of the increase territory. As a result, Parmly has had a difficult competing with other job opportunities 8 miles away that can pay far better because of their metropolitan area rate designation.

REMEMBER DICK CARROLL

Wednesday morning began on a sad note. I attended the funeral of Richard "Dick" Carroll, a retired firefighter from Center City. Dick was a submariner in World War II and was very active in several veterans' organizations, including serving as Post Commander for his VFW Post.

I met Dick a few years back, and he always had those perfect encouraging words at just the right time. He was big man with an even bigger heart. And he was always engaged in some sort of community service.

It was in the spirit of service that Dick began driving the Chisago County Veterans Services van, to transport veterans in the county to the Vets Hospital in Richfield. Last week, returning from such a visit, Dick suffered a medical emergency and subsequently crashed head-on with another van. Dick lost his life, as did the driver of the other van.

LEGISLATIVE SURVEY