ST. PAUL – Republicans say an agriculture budget bill, which normally enjoys broad bipartisan support, passed the Minnesota House on only a party-line vote Thursday.
Both sides seem satisfied with a new safety-net program for grain farmers, although Republicans wanted a larger initial fund balance. Democratic Majority Leader Jamie Long said farmers who are caught up in an elevator bankruptcy won’t have to worry about losing their family farm.
But Republicans, including Paul Torkelson, have problems with what they say will water down a state agency that’s important to livestock producers. He said, “Tinkering with the Board of Animal Health based on what seems to be a whim of some sort… is tinkering with disaster, frankly.”
However, both parties are giving thumbs-up to a 100-million-dollar increase to expand broadband access in Greater Minnesota.
Comments