Local Government Aid Bill will Affect Rural Minnesota Says Senator Kent Eken

ST. PAUL (KDLM) – Senator Kent Eken spoke on the Senate Floor this week on the importance of having Local Government Aid in rural Minnesota.

The bill, which passed the state Senate Monday would take local government aid from Minneapolis to reimburse any unpaid bills for outside police officers who respond to help the city, particularly during the upcoming murder trial in the killing of George Floyd.

Eken speaking on the Senate floor said the bill could affect rural Minnesota as well, “this is setting a precedent for events yet to come, for cities that have not yet experienced disasters…it seems to me that it’s kicking people when they’re down.”

The Senate approved the bill on a 35-32 vote that was largely along party lines.