Pubdate: Sun, 23 Jan 2005
Source: Albert Lea Tribune (MN)
Copyright: 2005 Albert Lea Tribune Inc.
Contact:  http://www.albertleatribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3521
Author: Jennifer Rogers
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

METH STILL HOT TOPIC AT CAPITOL

In the third week of session, legislators in both the House of
Representatives and the Senate passed their first bills and the state's
methamphetamine problem remains in the forefront.

At the state capitol:

Methamphetamine legislation update:

Sen. Julie Rosen, R-Fairmont, and Rep. Jeff Johnson R-Plymouth, said they'll
sponsor legislation to crack down on methamphetamine, a highly addictive
drug that's infiltrated rural communities and is reaching into suburbs and
cities.

The proposal would classify over-the-counter cold medicines containing
pseudoephedrine - a necessary ingredient to make meth - as controlled
substances, require stores to store them behind the counter and make
customers sign for purchases, capped at two packages.

Rosen said it's critical to limit access to meth ingredients this year
because neighboring states are also considering similar restrictions.

"If we don't pass effective legislation we will be the dumping ground for
every meth head in the Upper Midwest," Rosen said at a news conference
Wednesday.

After Oklahoma imposed similar rules, the number of meth labs fell 70
percent, she said.

The legislation - which also includes prevention programs, funding for 10
new Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agents and tougher penalties - is the
same proposal rolled out in October by Gov. Tim Pawlenty, spokesman Brian
McClung said. The price tag - $3.5 million then - may have risen since.
Rosen said the final cost of her bill hasn't been tallied.

"The governor has said that there's some flexibility on these types of
priorities," McClung said.

The bill also includes a revolving loan fund to clean up meth-contaminated
properties and development of a pilot program to treat meth addiction.

Canadian medications:

Gov. Tim Pawlenty and five other state governors will try to convince
Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin not to choke off cross-border sales of
prescription drugs.

Pawlenty and the governors of Wisconsin, Utah, Kansas, Maine and North
Dakota sent Martin a letter Wednesday asking for a face-to-face meeting in
Ottawa. Pawlenty's office released a copy of the letter.

Martin's government has been considering restrictions that would shut down
Internet drug sales to U.S. customers seeking cheaper medications. It's an
industry with sales of about $1 billion last year. Minnesota was the first
state to create a Web site, MinnesotaRxConnect.com, to help residents
purchase cheaper Canadian medications.

"It is imperative that the Canadian government realize that the restriction
of prescription drug supplies could mean the difference between life and
death for many Americans, many of whom are residents of our states," the
governors said in the letter.

Pawlenty and nine other governors also sent a letter to Congress urging the
passage of federal legislation legalizing imports of cheaper prescription
drugs from Canada and other industrialized countries.

This week in the State House of Representatives:

House committee highlights:

Budget:

The first bill to pass the House in 2005 is a $30.4 million deficiency
spending measure to help keep afloat the Criminal Gang Strike Force, public
defenders, and a handful of other state programs who are slated for a budget
squeeze by June 30 or sooner.

Sponsored by Rep. Jim Knoblach (R-St. Cloud), HF57 passed Jan. 20 by a 131-2
vote. It now moves to the Senate, where Sen. Richard Cohen (DFL-St. Paul) is
the sponsor of a companion bill (SF350).

Some of the larger appropriations would include:

- - $13.4 million for regional treatment centers for civilly committed sex
offenders,

- - $7.7 million to offset the loss of public defender co-pay revenue after
the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that a 2003 law obligating defendants to
pay $50 for a public defender was unconstitutional,

- - $4.4 million to help offset corrections costs driven in part by more
methamphetamine offenders resulting in an unanticipated prison population
growth and rising health costs to combat tooth decay and Hepatitis C within
that population, and

- - $3.7 million for the Agriculture Department and Health Department
relocation to a joint facility.

Veterans:

A $7.2 million appropriation to the Minnesota Veterans Homes Board for
capital projects was presented to the House Health Policy and Finance
Committee Jan. 19.

Sponsored by Bud Nornes (R-Fergus Falls), H75 would authorize the issuance
of state bonds for five capital projects at veterans homes. The projects
are:

- - $2.5 million for a special care unit addition at Fergus Falls,

- - $1.8 million for renovating the Minneapolis dining and kitchen facilities,

- - $1.5 million to upgrade clinical space at Silver Bay,

- - $1.1 million for remodeling the Minneapolis adult day care service
building, and

- - $268,100 for an Alzheimer's addition at Luverne

Stephen Musser, executive director of the Minnesota Veterans Homes Board,
said there are an estimated 462,000 veterans in Minnesota, and there are
currently 861 beds in the veterans homes. Musser said one of the board's
goals is to bring the facilities up to today's long-term care standards.
There are as many as 300 veterans waiting to get into a veterans home.

Some of the bills introduced in the House:

- - Bill number HF274 on Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources
Finance was introduced by Rep. Dan Dorman (R-Albert Lea). The bill asks that
Blazing Star Trail segment funding be provided, bonds issued and money
appropriated.

- - Bill number HF364 on Public Safety Policy and Finance was introduced by
Rep. John Lesch (DFL-St.Paul). The bill asks that methamphetamine precursor
drugs be regulated; a retail education program be required; restitution,
property restrictions and criminal penalties be imposed; a methamphetamine
laboratory cleanup fund be established and money appropriated.

For more information on the House's activities for the week of Jan. 17 visit
www.house.mn.

This week in the State Senate:

First Senate bill passed:

Minnesota tax relief for Indian Ocean tsunami disaster donations is on the
fast track for quick legislative approval. The proposal authored by Sen. Ann
Rest (DFL-New Hope) was the first 2005 bill passed by the Senate, 60-1
Thursday.

A one month January-only extension of 2004 federal income tax deduction
eligibility for tsunami disaster relief cash donations was passed Jan. 6 by
Congress. If Minnesota lawmakers follow up by conforming to the federal
change, tsunami donations made in January will be eligible for deductions
from both federal and state taxes for 2004 tax year filings due April 15.
Cash donations by corporations, partnerships and individual non-itemizers
are also eligible for the extension.

By acting quickly, the tax conformity bill can become law before most 2004
income tax returns are filed, making the process easier for the majority of
tax filers.

Ethanol content increases in fuel, but measure hits a snag on Senate floor:

The Senate Agriculture, Veterans and Gaming Committee passed a bill to
increase the ethanol content requirement in fuel from 10 percent to 20
percent. The mandate relies on a waiver from the EPA which currently limits
ethanol blends to 10 percent. The bill also sets a goal of 20 percent usage
of renewable fuels throughout the state by 2015.

The bill would require a 44 percent production increase to 574 million
gallons of ethanol a year, from the current level of 400 million gallons a
year. Three new plants, which are now under construction, will add 150
million gallons by the end of 2005, bringing the state to within 24 million
gallons of this goal four years before the 2010 deadline.

The bill is supported by commodity groups and farm organizations which are
often on opposite sides of agriculture issues - the AgriGrowth Council, the
Minnesota Farmers Union and the Minnesota Farm Bureau. They argue the new
mandate could help the farm economy and create up to 1200 new jobs. The bill
is opposed by petroleum companies and auto dealers concerned about the costs
of the mandate, which could include the need to add pumps and underground
storage tanks to gas stations.

The bill passed easily in committee on a voice vote, with one decent, and
was referred to the Floor. It hit a snag on the Floor one week later. Sen.
David Hann (R-Eden Prairie), a member of the Agriculture Committee who was
absent for some of the ethanol debate and the vote on the bill, moved to
halt the bill's smooth progress by sending it to the Rules Committee. After
a brief review of the bill's progress, the Rules Committee voted to send the
bill to the Environment Committee, but not to the Commerce Committee, as
Hann requested.

House information gathered from Session Weekly, a House publication. Senate
information gathered from 2005 Week in Review, Jan. 20.
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MAP posted-by: Josh