Dan Sparks, State Senator

The Senate was busy this week. We passed all major budget bills, a tax bill, a bonding bill and several policy initiatives to meet our self-imposed deadline of March 31. But among all the action, the issue that probably received the most attention was the approval of a statewide smoking ban.

This is something I supported in committee this year &8212; I serve on two committees that were required to review this legislation. I believe it&8217;s important to protect families from secondhand smoke, and I don&8217;t think there are many people that would refute the harmful effects that smoke exposure can have. That is why I think exempting smoking in family-style restaurants is a prudent step.

I also believe, however, that it&8217;s important to protect our local business people. In committee, I offered an amendment that was somewhat of a &8220;safety net&8221; for small businesses that sell mostly liquor. It would have allowed them to analyze their sales through 2009 and build a smoking room if they saw a large profit loss from the smoking ban.

It was an attempt at a compromise to prevent economic loss and job loss.

I represent an area of the state that shares a border with Iowa, which does not have a smoking ban. It&8217;s not a fear but a reality for our business-owners that an outright ban on smoking would drive customers to the other side of the border, where no restrictions exist. Simply put, our local bars needed some wiggle room. They need alternatives, such as sectioned-off smoking areas, that will allow them to retain customers and stay in business.

This is why, when the bill came to a vote on the Senate floor, I voted no. My amendment did not gain enough support to stay on the final bill, which meant the bill that passed is an all-out, total ban on smoking in bars and restaurants in Minnesota. I am hopeful that a more tempered approach can be agreed upon when the House and Senate meet in conference committee to find a compromise. I know there are several other lawmakers who represented greater Minnesota and border cities who share my concerns.

Also this week, the Senate approved a bonding bill that includes several local projects. The biggest victory may be $2.5 million for Albert Lea&8217;s Edgewater Park area. This money will be combined with funds received last year and will help the city finalize cleanup and restoration efforts at the old city dump site. This, in turn, will help improve the city’s drinking water and the overall environment in that area. The same amount of money was included in the House&8217;s bonding bill so I am hopeful this means it will be included in the final bill sent to the governor.

The bonding bill also included $2.5 million for a Southeast Minnesota training center for local police members and firefighters to train in a safe environment at a state-of-the art facility. The training center is located in Rochester but will serve all of Southeastern Minnesota. Another $30 million was reserved for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, a portion of which may come back to Riverland Community College.

Finally, $30 million was allocated for local bridge improvements around the state. We received maps and statistics in committee that show our area of the state &8212; Mower, Freeborn and Fillmore counties &8212; have the highest number of deficient bridges in Minnesota. Statewide, there are 840 deficient bridges; 133 of those are in our three counties. The need for funds to fix these structures and make them safe again is critical.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at 651-296-9248 or sen.dan.sparks@senate.mn, or 317 State Capitol, St. Paul, MN 55155.

Dan Sparks is a DFL state Senator from Austin who represents District 27.