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Story originally printed in the Winona Daily News or online at www.winonadailynews.com

Published - Friday, May 09, 2008

I support clean cars, clean legislative process

By State Rep. Gene Pelowski | Winona

There has been some confusion about my position on the “Clean Cars” bill moving through the legislative process. The bill calls on automakers to provide us with less polluting, more fuel-efficient cars and trucks. I support the bill because it will save consumers money on fuel, decrease our dependence on foreign oil and decrease greenhouse gas emissions in Minnesota.

Earlier this week when the bill was in committee, a legislator offered a major amendment to the bill that contained numerous errors. The amendment was drafted hastily and had not been proofed, but it was decided to adopt the amendment and correct it in a future committee. When the Clean Car bill was in the committee I chair, Governmental Operations, Reform, Technology and Elections, I supported it. But I could not vote for legislation that contains numerous errors and just assume the next committee would fix it. That is not in the best interest of the people of Minnesota.

For the past year the Governmental Operations, Reform, Technology and Elections Committee has been looking at legislative reform to stop these practices. I support clean cars and a clean legislative process.