6.1. ERMUSR 02-15-2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Senate Agriculture Committee; several follow up meet- ings with House and Senate staff; letters from coalition members to Congress and letters among Congressional leaders. A colloquy on the independent financial advisor was also developed and delivered on the Senate floor. While final passage did not contain everything request- ed, MMUA's assistance was critical to improving the bill throughout the process. ers; new environmental regulations; realistic emissions targets and timetables; and the allocation o£ emissions allowances. Throughout the debate MMUA was in constant con- tact with members of the MN congressional delegation, especially key offices of Peterson, Walz, and Oberstar. In addition MMUA played a key role on the allocation issue, especially in the House. While the House Energy and Commerce Committee had primary jurisdiction over the bill, several other committees helped develop the final legislation, including Agriculture, led by Chairman Peterson. During intense negotiations between these key committees, MMUA was actively engaged on the alloca- tion issue. Working with the Chairman, and supported by other offices of the MN delegation, MMUA sought and procured key legislative changes that affected the out- come of the allocation formula devised under the bill for rural co-ops and small municipal entities. These changes were ultimately adopted as part of the final House bill. Financial regulation reform Both chambers of the 111th Congress passed historic and comprehensive legislation concerning the US bank- ing industry and financial markets; the bill was signed by the president last summer (Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act). Public power and public gas systems had several concerns with this legislation, including new and potentially burdensome government regulations affecting "end-users" and the derivatives markets (electricity and natural gas), new provisions requiring an independent investor when mak- ing swap deals, and possible exemptions from certain Act provisions affecting transactions of energy-related commodities. Working with the American Public Power Association and the American Public Gas Association, MMUA played a critical role invoicing these concerns to Congressio- nal leaders: sending an MMUA delegation to meet with Chairman Peterson and committee staff; developing alternative legislative language to resolve key concerns; working with Sen. Klobuchar, a key member of the Rail reform/captive rail The 111°" Congress was the scene of great activity on captive rail legislation focusing on two primary mea- sures in both the House and Senate-the antitrust bill and the STB reform bill, which seeks major changes at the Surface Transportation Board. House and Senate committees approved the antitrust bill, while the Senate Commerce Committee approved its version of the STB reform bill. Unfortunately, the same House measure, sponsored by Chairman Oberstar, was never brought to a committee vote and ultimately the 111th never ap- proved final rail legislation. MMUA was active on the rail front, securing support from members of the MN delegation for the House initia- tives and helping to develop legislative strategy with the MN Senate offices. Both Sens. Klobuchar and Franken supported the rail bills but were unable to secure final passage in the waning days of the session. MMUA rep- resentatives held several meetings with Klobuchar and Franken staff, seeking to resolve differences between the Judiciary and Commerce panels, which both had juris- diction over the bills. T¢x/comparable financial incentives The public power community continued to fight last Congress for comparable financial incentives in tax legislation, specifically under the new 1603 Treasury Grant Program and the now-established Clean Renew- able Energy Bonds program (CREBs). Overall results were mixed: while the 1603 program was extended for one year, allowing the municipal electric community to continue receiving benefits of the stimulus program, no expansion of the program occurred, and CREBs failed to make the final cut in the tax package passed in Decem- ber. The Minnesota delegation, however, remains largely supportive of these efforts and MMUA was active on the tax front. For example, progress was made on CREBs in both the House and Senate~hanges were made to the program to increase funding for public power, changes actively supported by Reps. Walz, Peterson, and McCol- lum. Both CREBs and 1603 issues are supported by both senators, and MMUA secured signatures on key letters of support for both provisions in Democratic leadership letters this past session. 8 - 2010 Year In Review U.S. Rep. Tim Walz listens as RPU's Wally Schlink talks.