“Disaster relief is on its way,” Gov. Mark Dayton said in the governor’s reception room, where he signed the bill into law.
In a rare show of unanimity, the Senate quickly dispatched the disaster-relief package on a 59-0 vote, and the House followed suit, 123-1. Legislators briefly engaged over controversial new business taxes but saved that issue and their continuing political disputes for the regular legislative session next year.
“We will come together, Republicans and Democrats today, and do the right thing,” said Rep. Greg Davids, a Republican from Preston whose southeastern district was one of the hardest-hit by the late-June storms.
The bulk of the money, $4.5 million, provides the state and local share required by the federal government for cleanup and repair costs related to severe storms, straight-line winds and floods that raged through central and southern Minnesota. Total disaster relief, including federal money, amounts to $18 million.
“Disaster relief is on its way,” Gov. Mark Dayton said in the governor’s reception room, where he signed the bill into law.
In a rare show of unanimity, the Senate quickly dispatched the disaster-relief package on a 59-0 vote, and the House followed suit, 123-1. Legislators briefly engaged over controversial new business taxes but saved that issue and their continuing political disputes for the regular legislative session next year.
“We will come together, Republicans and Democrats today, and do the right thing,” said Rep. Greg Davids, a Republican from Preston whose southeastern district was one of the hardest-hit by the late-June storms.
The bulk of the money, $4.5 million, provides the state and local share required by the federal government for cleanup and repair costs related to severe storms, straight-line winds and floods that raged through central and southern Minnesota. Total disaster relief, including federal money, amounts to $18 million.