Changing leadership, changing priorities

One area where the change from a DFL majority in the House and Senate to a Republican majority in both houses has resulted in an obvious difference is in the spending recommendations of the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources.

The LCCMR made its recommendations on spending more than $51 million before the November elections. Two weeks ago, Republican leaders told the commission that they wanted to consider some changes before sending the recommendations to the Legislature.

Most of the projects they are reconsidering are research studies. Recommendations for parks and trails appear to be safe, although that will become clear when the commission meets Monday and forwards the final recommendations to the House and Senate environment committees.

The LCCMR bill crafted before the election recommended $3 million for park and trail acquisition and $3 million for park development at Lake Vermillion. Parks & Trails Council supports both of those.