Minnesota Senate vote may pave way for Iron Range jobless aid
Updated 1:35 p.m. | Posted 12:24 p.m.
A Minnesota Senate vote set for Thursday on a bill reducing unemployment premium costs for state companies could break a logjam over a related measure to provide 26 more weeks of unemployment benefits for Iron Range mine workers facing long layoffs.
Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk on Wednesday pledged quick action on the standalone business relief measure as a way to detach it from the benefits extension. Bakk, DFL-Cook, said he hopes the Minnesota House passes independent bills doing both before leaving for an Easter recess Thursday.
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"I am willing to do the business tax cut first. If somehow people feel that they might not get their tax cut if they extend the unemployment benefits, shame on you because I've given my word and the governor has given his word," Bakk said.
"If you just don't trust anybody and you just have to put this tax relief put before the unemployment extension for the people on the Iron Range, then suspend the rules and send it to the governor tomorrow," he said. "That's my request of the House and we'll hope that the House keeps their word."
Passage Thursday would send both bills to Gov. Mark Dayton, who has promised to sign them.
Lawmakers had hoped to approve the Iron Range assistance earlier this month but it got slowed when the business break became connected.
House Speaker Kurt Daudt, R-Zimmerman, said he doesn't imagine there would be a problem as long as the bills line up. He said House leaders also wanted to move quickly this session and were disappointed the measures got tied up in procedural difficulties.
"It's always a bit confusing to us why folks on the Iron Range couldn't have had the relief. It could have been on the governor's desk by Monday afternoon," said Daudt. "There has been a delay. It sounds like an unneeded delay."