The Minnesota House and Senate have unanimously passed a flood relief plan to help the residents of northern Minnesota. The $31.8 million package will provide economic assistance to businesses, homeowners and farmers in the 19-county area. Lawmakers also unanimously passed two tax-related items. All three bills now head to Gov. Ventura, who's expected to sign them.

	Rep. Ted Winter, DFL-Fulda, held up a vote on flood relief money for northwestern Minnesota during Thursday's special legislative session. He wanted to get drought aid for farmers hit in Rock, Nobles and Jackson counties. (MPR Photo/Tom Scheck)

The flood package will provide money to help people rebuild and repair their homes, and help business owners repair their buildings and restock their inventory. It also provides money to repair roads and bridges, and for flood mitigation.

Lawmakers in northern Minnesota pleaded with their colleagues to pass the legislation. Rep. Maxine Penas, R-Badger, says the money will help residents deal with flood problems before winter.

"While significant damage has already ocurred through the disaster area, more damage is going to occur when the ground freezes up. The winter causes the roads to heave, house foundations to crack and collapse, and at-risk infrastructure to deteriorate," says Penas.

Lawmakers also passed two tax-related items. One bill restored the charitable giving deduction used by wealthier Minnesotans who are subject to the alternative minimum tax.

The other bill clarifies that gravel remains exempt from sales tax. The state Revenue Department interpreted that a bill passed in the last session required the state to tax gravel. That interpretation contradicted lawmakers' intentions.

	Nearly every home and building in Roseau was damaged by floodwaters. (MPR file photo)

House leaders predicted the special session would only take an hour, but the flood bill hit a snag when a lawmaker from southwestern Minnesota wanted drought assistance for farmers. Rep. Ted Winter, DFL-Fulda, says farmers in his region lost a large amount of their crops to drought.

"There is a disaster problem out there," Winter said. "We feel that an acre of crop in southern Minnesota that's got a disaster of more than 50 percent loss should be included in the package -- just as well as an acre of crop in the northern part of the state that's in the 19 counties that are being declared."

Winter insisted that lawmakers vote on his amendment, creating complications for leaders who had promised they would only debate the already agreed-upon items. After two hours of negotiating, Winter's amendment was defeated on a voice vote.

Winter blamed the Ventura administration for not including help for his region in the bill. He says he's received assurances from legislative leaders that they'll consider his amendment when they return in January.

There was little debate on the three items in the Senate. Sen. leRoy Stumpf, DFL-Thief River Falls, says he's pleased lawmakers have voted on the flood bill.

"This has been a very long and difficult summer for quite a few counties and a lot of communities. The special session being called has brought a lot of hope to the communities that have been affected by the flood this summer," Stumpf said.

Roseau Mayor Jeff Pelowski, whose town was one of those hardest hit by the floods, says he's relieved the bill has passed. He says it will be a good first step for rebuilding the region.

"It's basically a band-aid to get the ball rolling - to get us the assistance we need to ... get ready for winter and get through it. We'll be back next session, and by then we'll be looking for additional needs," Pelowski said.

A spokesman for Gov. Ventura's office says the governor will sign the three bills Friday.

Session 2002