Disaster aid bill approved

Minnesota communities ravaged by floods and tornadoes got a major boost Monday as the Legislature unanimously approved $80 million in funding for repairs and reconstruction.

The money will provide flood relief for 21 southern Minnesota counties and tornado aid in 13 counties.

Within hours, Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed the bill, passed in a special one-day legislative session.

"We have acted quickly to provide the necessary relief and support for these communities to rebuild," Pawlenty said.

The aid package focuses on fixing public property like buildings and roads instead of assistance to individual homeowners or businesses. The federal government last week also declined a request for aid to individuals. More than 600 homes were severely damaged.

State officials say Minnesota will receive an additional $19 million from the federal Small Business Administration for low-interest loans to homeowners.

When combined with expected federal relief, the total aid package could exceed $140 million.

The bills include language that assumes the arrival of federal stimulus money next year for increased medical assistance will free up other money to pay for the disaster relief.

"Nothing in this bill will contribute to the budget being unbalanced," said Sen. Ann Lynch, DFL-Rochester, a sponsor of the legislation. She said there would be no reduction in medical assistance.

Legislators paused their reelection campaigns to travel back to St. Paul for the day's effort, but one DFLer couldn't resist tweaking Republicans on their past reluctance to rely on federal stimulus money.

Before the House vote Monday, Rep. Tom Rukavina, DFL-Virginia, tried to draw out Rep. Tom Emmer, the Republican gubernatorial candidate, about voting for flood aid while generally criticizing government in his campaign.

"[To] Rep. Emmer, in particular ... government can do good things," said Rukavina.

But overall, the relief package, with funds for both Republican and DFL districts, provided unusual common ground for legislators.

"I do want to echo my support," said Sen. David Senjem, R-Rochester, whose area was hard hit by flooding. Sen. Steve Murphy, DFL-Red Wing, who often has been at odds with Pawlenty, thanked the governor's office for its help in crafting the measure.

An earlier attempt by Sen. Scott Dibble and Rep. Jim Davnie, both Minneapolis DFLers, to use the special session to pass an anti-bullying law in schools was dropped. DFL leaders later pledged to address it in the regular legislative session next year.

More than $73 million in state aid will help communities hit by September floods. The remaining $6.6 million would assist Wadena and other areas stricken by tornadoes and violent storms in June.

Hours before the vote, officials in the cities affected by the flooding and the tornadoes testified in morning hearings about the aftermath.

Mike Johnson, emergency management director for Steele County, held up a map. "At one point, we had over 70 road closures ... in Owatonna, we couldn't get across the river," he said.

Some legislators said damaged establishments in their districts were being overlooked. The New Richland Care Center was forced to close because of the flood, but is being assessed a per-resident state tax even though "they have no residents," said Sen. Julie Rosen, R-Fairmont. She said the tax is costing the shuttered nursing home $12,000 a month.

Legislators sought assurances there would be enough oversight to make sure money isn't misspent -- something that happened after a 2007 flood in Rushford when some unqualified businesses received aid.

Rep. Alice Hausman, DFL-St. Paul, said Monday she was skeptical the state had a long-range plan that took the same approach to different disasters. Sen. Ellen Anderson, DFL-St. Paul, asked, "How much in this bill is going to prevent more flooding in the future?"

Kris Eide, director of Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management, replied that the bill is intended to focus on relief, not flood mitigation.