| For Immediate Release | For more information contact: |
| April 13, 2000 | Renae Reedy (651-296-9895) |
House accepts compromise feedlot bill
The Minnesota House voted to approve a modified bill that aims to correct some of the proposed Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) feedlot rules. The House passed their original feedlot bill a few weeks ago, but the provisions in it were quite different from the Senate's version of the same legislation. A conference committee was called to work out the differences between the two bills, and the House voted to approve their compromise on Thursday.
The revised feedlot bill lightens the load on small farmers, and eliminates some of the extreme portions of the bill. Some of the major provisions aim specifically to reduce the cost of complying with the new rules for small farmers. The bill also eliminates the restrictions on animal pastures.
One of the specific provisions frees small feedlot operators who have less than 100 animal units from having to upgrade their feedlots unless cost-share money is available to cover at least 75 percent of the cost. It also prohibits the MPCA from requiring a feedlot operator with less than 300 animal units to spend more than $3,000 to upgrade an existing feedlot and prevents feedlot operators with 300 to 500 animal from having to spend more than $10,000 on upgrades unless cost-share money is available to cover at least 75 percent of the cost.
Rep. Bob Westfall (R-Rothsay) was involved in drafting the bill and working out the compromise in conference committee.
"I am pleased with this bill," Westfall said. "It takes into consideration environmental concerns without ignoring the impact to our small farmers."
The Senate still must approve the bill before it can be sent to the Governor and Westfall is hopeful that will happen.
"This was a hard issue to work with," Westfall said, "Nobody wants polluted water in our lakes and rivers, but we have to balance that with the needs of our small farmers. I think this bill does a good job of finding middle ground and keeping the proposed MPCA rules from causing some very ugly situations."
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Closing of rural driver's testing stations delayed until August
As a direct result of negotiations between Public Safety Commissioner Charlie Weaver, Rep. Westfall and a few other rural Representatives, the proposed closing of 21 rural driver's testing stations, including one in Breckenridge, has been delayed until August 1st.
"When I first heard about these closings, I was very concerned about the effect on Breckenridge and the other local communities," Westfall said. "I personally met with Commissioner Weaver on this issue, and I'm glad to see he's acting on this concern."
According to Westfall, Weaver and his staff will use the extra time to get public input on alternatives to closing the station and the impact the closings will have on local communities. The driver's testing stations in question are used for written and behind-the-wheel testing for those seeking new or upgraded driver's licenses.
House passes bill to prevent infant abandonment
The Minnesota House of Representatives voted unanimously on Wednesday to allow mothers to drop off their newborns at hospitals without facing criminal charges. The bill is an attempt to deter mothers in crisis from abandoning and causing death or harm to their babies.
"If I could have my way, every child would be wanted and every mother would be ready for the responsibility of a baby," said Rep. Westfall. "But since that isn't always the case in our imperfect world, this bill will hopefully prevent babies from becoming innocent victims."
Under the "Safe Place" legislation, new mothers could drop off their unharmed newborn infant within 72 hours of its birth at any hospital without facing criminal charges. The hospital would then be required to contact child protective services within 24 hours of receiving the child, but not before the mother leaves the hospital.
"This legislation gives the mother an opportunity to do the right thing by bringing the child to a safe place where it will be cared for," Westfall said. "New mothers need to know there are alternatives to just abandoning their babies."
The Senate also passed the legislation this week and the bill will now be sent to Governor Ventura for his signature.
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