Vets win, ag loses, ethanol survives in House

Posted at 1:35 PM on April 22, 2009 by Tim Pugmire

The Minnesota House has voted to increase funding for veterans at the expense of farmers.

The House is debating an omnibus finance bill today that covers agriculture, veterans and military affairs. Overall, the measure would reduce spending by 6 percent, with agriculture taking most of the hit. Funding for veterans programs was protected by tapping a surplus in state GI Bill money. But the deep cuts proposed for farm programs grew deeper with several floor amendments that shifted more money from the Department of Agriculture budget to veterans programs.

Republicans had been painting the bill as a cut for veterans. But Rep. Al Juhnke, DFL-Willmar, says that was never the case. Before the floor session, Juhnke told reporters that it was unfortunate to see veterans used as a political issue..

"I will tell you there are just as many Democrat veterans in this state as Republican veterans," Juhnke said. "And we treat them all with respect. And we try and fund to the best of our ability all their needs and services."

The House also voted down an amendment to end state subsidies for ethanol by a wide margin.

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