Anzelc says it’s a good bill

Rep. Tom Anzelc, DFL-Balsam Township, Wednesday applauded the passage of the House Omnibus Environment and Natural Resources Bill, which was approved with bipartisan support by a vote of 95 to 38 Tuesday night.
The bill balances protection of Minnesota's vast resources with sound recreation and economic opportunities, he said.
"The people of northern Minnesota know how to be good stewards of their environment," Anzelc said. "This bill helps to make sure that our children will be able to enjoy our lakes woods and all of the outdoor pastimes and activities we here in northern Minnesota enjoy."
Lawmakers worked into the night Tuesday until the early morning Wednesday, he noted.
Anzelc said he was especially pleased to see that the bill avoided a $1.8 million fee increase on boat owners that was included in the governor's budget.
"I made sure in committee that boat fees were not included because we've had enough fee increases over the past several years," he stated.
Anzelc also pointed to the inclusion of additional resources to fight invasive species. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources recently classified several lakes along the border from Kabetogama west to Lake of the Woods as "infested waters” due to the presence of the spiny waterflea.
"Ultimately self-discipline is the best way to fight invasive species like the spiny waterflea, but this bill will help too. Everyone in the fishing community has a job to do. Our fishing heritage and culture are at stake," Anzelc said.
Meanwhile, he noted that the House energy bill includes $400,000 to study technology involved in plasma gasification, which has been proposed for a Renewable Energy Clean Air Project in International Falls. The facility would use the technology to turn garbage and other waste into energy and other valuable byproducts.
“I would be shocked if it does not survive the conference committee (with the Senate) and equally shocked if the governor used a line-item veto on the funding,” he told Journal staff from his St. Paul office Wednesday.
Anzelc also reported that the House approved a bill that would provide $350,000 for construction of a new a municipal building in Northome. The previous building was destroyed by fire.
However, he cautioned, the bills all rely on raising revenue.
Anzelc said he’s confidant that lawmakers will approve a 5-cent per gallon increase in the gas tax, adding that a 10-cent increase won’t be approved.
In addition, he said he believed Gov. Tim Pawlenty will put the brakes on a proposal to raise income taxes on high-end earners. “I can’t see the governor giving us that,” he said.
House Democrats, he said, don’t view the proposal as a raise in taxes for those people. “We view it as reinstatement of where we once were,” he explained
Next on the agenda, he said, is education spending. The House bill, proposed he said, will be good for Borderland school districts.