Minn. House cuts ag budget, boosts spending on vets
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The Minnesota House has voted to increase funding for veterans at the expense of farmers.
The House passed a finance bill today that covers agriculture, veterans and military affairs by a vote of 83-49.
Overall, the measure reduces spending by 6 percent, with agriculture taking most of the hit. Funding for veterans is protected by tapping a surplus in state GI Bill money.
But the deep cuts in farm programs grew deeper with several floor amendments that shifted money from the Department of Agriculture budget to veterans.
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The Department of Veterans Affairs and veterans homes would see their funding go up by about 3 percent.
Rep. Doug Magnus, R-Slayton, opposed the bill and the impact of the agriculture cuts.
"So you're looking at county fairs, Northern Crop Institute, the Horticulture Society, turf research," said Magnus. "It's not all coming out of the commissioner of agriculture travel budget. It's not all coming out of the the folks across the street's staff."
Rep. Al Juhnke, DFL-Willmar, said it was unfortunate to see veterans used as a political issue.
"There are just as many Democrat veterans in this state as Republican veterans," said Juhnke. "And we treat them all with respect. And we try and fund to the best of our ability all their needs and services."
The House voted down an amendment that called for an end to ethanol subsidies, but the Ag Department's funding reduction would cut those subsidies by 20 percent, or $6 million over the next two years.
The move followed last week's Legislative Auditor's report critical of those subsidies.
