Water issues transcend partisan rancor at state capitol, kind of
Policies to ensure water quality and funding to repair the state's crumbling water infrastructure are some of the few areas where both Democrats and Republicans have found agreement this legislative session.
The Legislature last month passed buffer bill to limit how closely farmers can plant to a stream or other body of water. Gov. Mark Dayton also convened a water summit in February that took on everything from invasive aquatic species to how to protecting the state's drinking water supplies.
Rep. Paul Torkelson, R-Hanska, chair of Capital Investment committee, said boosting the money available to replace old water infrastructure is the one area where he agrees with Dayton's bonding proposal.
"It's important to remember that we've been doing this work for a long time," Torkelson said. "The governor has proposed boosting that and broadening it a little bit, and I think that's good."
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Although there's general agreement that the water infrastructure needs investment, lawmakers still need to decide who exactly will pay for the improvements, said Rep. Rick Hansen, DFL-South St. Paul, who is his party's lead in the Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Finance committee.
"People talk about roads and bridges, you can feel the pothole, but you can't see the cracked pipe under the ground," Hansen said.
State Senate Democrats have called for a $1.5 billion bonding bill, which includes some funding for water projects. House Republicans are expected to recommend $600 million in general borrowing.
Torkelson and Hansen appeared together on MPR News with Tom Weber. To hear the full conversation use the audio player above.