ST. PAUL
The Minnesota Senate voted unanimously Thursday for a Legacy bill that would funnel $1.8 million to the University of Minnesota to set up an aquatic invasive species research center.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen, R-Alexandria, contains outdoors habitat recommendations from the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, including a proposal to spend $14 million for an undeveloped parcel along the Mississippi River near Brainerd. That land would be turned over to Crow Wing County.
The Senate bill differs from a House committee version, which provides more money for the center and for barriers limiting the movement of Asian carp and less money for the Mississippi Northwoods Habitat Complex.
The university center would research ways to limit the impact of invasive aquatic species, including several, such as zebra mussels and Asian carp, that threaten state waters. The bill was approved on a 63-0 vote.
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In other action, the Senate passed bills keeping state parks and recreation areas and the Minnesota Racing Commission, Gambling Control Board and Lottery open and operating in case of a state government shutdown.
Most DFL legislators opposed it, saying in part that it eliminates some consequences for not getting legislative work done in time and complaining that no comprehensive approach is being pursued.
Similar bills, all products of last year's three-week government shutdown, are working their way through the Legislature.
It also passed a bill setting up a process that allows the state to trade land it owns within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness for federal property outside it.
Distributed by MCT Information Services
