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Capitol View®
Tom Scheck

Kelliher passes on ethanol vote

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The House passed the Ag and Vets Budget bill the other day. During the debate, members were asked to consider an amendment that would end state subsidies for ethanol. The amendment was defeated 81- 49. What's interesting is that DFL House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher passed on voting for the bill. Kelliher was in the chamber but decided not to vote on the amendment. She said she wanted to stay out of a long-running dispute between House Ag and Vets Finance Chair Al Juhnke and House Public Safety Finance Chair Michael Paymar (who proposed the amendment):

"I decided to take a more Switzerland like approach out of respect for both of my chairs in that situation. Both have talked to me quite adamantly about that particular amendment," Kelliher said.

Kelliher said she has long supported state investment in ethanol, but she isn't sure the payments should continue when ethanol plants become profitable. She said she would also like to see the payments shifted from corn-based ethanol to cellulosic ethanol.

There have been efforts to end ethanol payments in past years but the issue was under increased scrutiny after the Legislative Auditor suggested that the state end ethanol subsidies.

Kelliher's decision to pass on the vote garnered some attention from House Republicans. Republican Representative Laura Brod wrote this on her twitter page:

"News Alert: Speaker Kelliher chose not to vote on the ethanol subsidy repeal... yep.... running for governor, I guess."

Brod wasn't quite as aggressive when I followed up with her on Kelliher's vote:

"I think it's always fun to watch people who are either running for another office or are assumed to be running for another office and it's kind of fun to watch their votes and see what they choose not to take some hits on."

Kelliher may not have decided whether she intends to run for governor in 2010 but it's safe to say that people are already watching her as if she's in the race.