If the state government shuts down this summer, the farmers will still be funded.
The Legislature's agriculture and rural economies budget bill has received bipartisan support and will be soon heading to Gov. Mark Dayton's desk, after it gets a final House vote Thursday afternoon. The measure, unlike the rest of the budget bills lawmakers are producing, will likely find a warm welcome from the Democratic governor.
"The budget they've proposed conforms closely with my recommendations," Dayton said. He also said that lawmakers removed some of the "objectionable policy provisions" out of the bill.
"I believe tomorrow is the signing ceremony to which you are all invited," the governor told reporters Thursday.
Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle said the agriculture bill could serve as a model for budget negotiations going forward.
But, unlike many of the other budget bills, the agriculture budget plan from the Legislature is very similar to Dayton's budget and has not set off any large controversies. Not true of the large budget bills, which are far from reaching Dayton's desk.
