Dayton May Call Special Session
St Paul, MN (KROC AM News) - Governor Mark Dayton is seriously considering calling lawmakers back to the Capitol next month for a special session. Not because of concerns over transportation, health care or bird flu - but because of an issue dealing with Minnesota’s most popular fish.
Dayton spoke Tuesday with legislative leaders about a possible special session in August to provide emergency disaster relief to resort owners and other businesses in the Lake Mille Lacs area. Last week, the DNR announced that the season quota for walleye fishing on the lake was very close to being met.
The governor’s office released this statement Tuesday:
"Governor Dayton spoke today with both Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk and House Speaker Kurt Daudt about a Special Session in August to provide emergency disaster relief to Mille Lacs resorters and other area businesses, if it becomes necessary to close the walleye fishing season. The Governor and his staff have been working over the past week to design a financial aid package, which could consist of zero interest loans, property tax abatements, and additional tourism advertising and promotion funds.
"Both the Speaker and the Majority Leader expressed initial receptivity and readily agreed that, in the event of a walleye fishing closing, the serious consequences would warrant a special session to provide financial assistance. They suggested a working group of themselves, other legislative leaders, and the governor’s designees to develop a relief package.
Dayton will meet Wednesday with Mille Lacs tourism officials to discuss the situation.
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