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Pawlenty proposes making state 'Saudi Arabia of Renewable Fuels Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Agri News staff writer
ROCHESTER, Minn. -- Gov. Tim Pawlenty challenged lawmakers to make Minnesota "the Saudi Arabia of Renewable Fuels" during last week's State of the State address.
Minnesota is already a leader in renewable fuels and by passing his initiative to double the amount of ethanol in gasoline sold in the state, Minnesota will cement its position as the "renewable fuel capitol of America," Pawlenty told a packed house at the Mayo Clinic Superior Drive Support Center.
Several lawmakers have introduced legislation based on Pawlenty's initiative to double the ethanol mandate from 10 percent to 20 percent. One bill, Senate File 4, has made it through the agriculture committee.
Rural lawmakers generally praised Pawlenty for mentioning ethanol in his speech, but Rep. Aaron Peterson, DFL-Madison, was disappointed the governor didn't mention renewable energy, including wind energy.
Rep. Andy Welti, DFL-Plainview, lauded the governor for mentioning renewable fuels, saying it's vitality important to reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil, but he wished the governor would have mentioned livestock.
Southeast Minnesota has lost many livestock farmers, Welti said, and the state government needs to infuse capital, sending a signal that opportunity exists.
It was moving, said Sen. Steve Dille, the father of a Black Hawk pilot, when Pawlenty recognized 17-year-old soldier Sara Gray of Columbia Heights.
Dille, R-Dassel, also liked the emphasis on renewable fuels and the ideas to combat methamphetamine addiction.
Pawlenty called meth addition "an epidemic, a crime wave and a social tragedy rolled into one."
Dille found it interesting that Pawlenty quoted former Gov. Arne Carlson from a 1994 speech, also delivered in Rochester. At the time, Carlson said "if we care about jobs, we must take a long-term pledge not to raise taxes -- not now and not for years to come." Carlson has since changed his position, but Pawlenty, who signed a no new taxes pledge when he ran for governor, remains opposed to tax increases.
"We don't have a tax problem" Pawlenty said. "We have a spending problem."
One of those spending challenges is the state's welfare health care system, Pawlenty said.
"If we don't get this under control, it will bankrupt the state and strangle our ability to fund our other priorities, such as schools and roads," he said.
Peterson was disappointed Pawlenty didn't talk more about those other priorities, specifically rural transportation.
Rep. Greg Davids, R-Preston, said the governor laid out an aggressive agenda.
Now, it's up to lawmakers to see if they can work together to get anything done.
The first test will come with the bonding bill, said Rep. Dan Dorman, R-Albert Lea. The bill's sure to include money for roads, bridges and the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, Dorman said. |
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