Kennedy opposes cut in flood control funds

Minnesota River towns

have used considerable

resources in flood protection

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Mark Kennedy is siding with U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton in opposing the Bush Administration's call for a 25 percent cut in federal money for the nation's flood mitigation projects.

In a press teleconference call, Kennedy, a Republican who represents Minnesota's Second District, said that with the frequency of major flooding "this is not the time to reduce the federal government's participation from the current 75 percent level. As I travel around the flood disaster areas of western Minnesota, I'm more firmly convinced that it is more sound to encourage these communities to build permanent levees, rather than substantially reduce government involvement which would discourage that action. I very definitely feel the funding should be kept at the 75 percent level."

Dayton, D-Minn., called President Bush's plan to revert to a 50-50 split "penny-wise and pound-idiotic."

Kennedy said the Minnesota River flooding has had a significant impact on the rural areas. "Cities along the river have had to expend considerable resources in protecting the community."

He said he has urged Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura to apply for disaster relief, but "it's my understanding that the governor still is awaiting preliminary reports from the communities involved. There are dollar thresholds that have to met and until the governor has the information that those thresholds are met, he can't move forward."

Kennedy also told reporters that there is emergency relief built into the budget resolution that was to be voted on Thursday night for farmers facing higher energy costs as they begin their spring planting.

Kennedy who sits on the House Agriculture committee said, "There is clearly a feeling that we need to do something to provide emergency relief, but what we need to determine is how to make sure we have enough energy supply for the future." He supports legislation to promote ethanol and other alternative energy production.

Kennedy reported the budget which the House would be passing contains "a significant increase" in funding for prescription drugs for seniors and "hopefully strengthening Medicare."

Kennedy will be spending the weekend in the Second District, with much of Saturday spent in New Ulm. He'll address the Minnesota League of Women Voters state conference at the Holiday Inn and tour the AMPI plant and New Ulm Medical Center.