Well, this is different . . .

Here's a blog post that almost writes itself. A couple of correspondents have written to Spot with ideas for the caucuses tonight. Since Spot is not a party activist, he is not a big proposer of resolutions at the caucus, but he's going to pass these along, dear readers, for your consideration.

First, Pete Westre at Left in the Heartland has some resolutions directed to putting the "L" back in DFL. There has even been some talk in recent years about removing the Farmer Labor part of the DFL name in Minnesota, but these are natural groups for the Democrats. Pete has some good ideas here; have a look.

Second, Spot got an email from Carol Overland, who has not always been charitable to ol' Spotty, calling into question whether Spot had been "fixed." Carol is a Green Party member. She is also a public utilities lawyer who is a neighbor to the Prairie Island nuclear plant. Since her resolutions were in the email, and not linked to a site, Carol gives Spot the extra chore of cutting and pasting.


WHEREAS, all communities are feeling the state budget crunch because taxes are going up; and
WHEREAS, many utilities received a large reduction in utility personal property tax rates; and
WHEREAS, all communities have utility infrastructure and are affected by these cuts;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Minnesota shall grant exemptions from utility personal property tax only where the utility has a Host Fee Agreement with affected communities that fairly compensates the community for the costs of hosting, such as infrastructure, security, traffic, noise, and nuisance.

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WHEREAS, we need an estimated 6,300 MW of new electric generation in the region by 2020; and
WHEREAS, there is over 16,000 MW of new electric generation in the region in line for interconnection; and
WHEREAS, there is more than enough generation to meet our needs;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Minnesota shall pick its new generation carefully, choosing generation that can be strategically sited to add without massive infrastructure investment; and choosing generation that provides a net gain of local economic development benefits and which does not drain resources from the community.

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WHEREAS, eminent domain in Minnesota is very similar to that set out in the recent Kelo Supreme Court case; and
WHEREAS, a primary usage of eminent domain in Minnesota is for transmission lines, pipelines, and utility infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, many miles of new transmission lines and pipelines are planned in Minnesota, affecting thousands of landowners;
WHEREAS, directly affected landowners want the option of moving away from new infrastructure:

BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Legislative changes to eminent domain law must not exempt utilities; and our “Buy the Farm” provision that allows landowners to require a full taking so they can move away must cover ALL high voltage transmission lines and pipelines as defined in the statute.

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WHEREAS, eminent domain in Minnesota is to be used for provision of essential services and elimination of blight; and
WHEREAS, eminent domain in Minnesota is to be rarely used and only for public benefit;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Minnesota shall grant the power of eminent domain only to governmental units and public service corporations (utilities) and not to private entities or for the benefit of private entities.

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WHEREAS, commercial, industrial and residential development in rural areas is growing at unprecedented rates; and
WHEREAS, commercial, industrial and residential development has to be carefully planned and sited to fit in a community:

BE IT RESOLVED that commercial, industrial and residential development must strategically sited to add without massive infrastructure investment, where infrastructure is necessary costs are born by developer, and that development must provide a net gain of local economic benefits and not drain resources from the community.


Eminent domain is shaping up to be one of the hot-button issues in the current legislative session. Whatever you view of eminent domain, you had better go to your caucus tonight prepared to talk about it.