Rep. Kurt Bills: 'I Got Some Things Off My Chest...' (Video)

During the debate Tuesday over the Omnibus Jobs and Economic Development Finance bill  in the House, there was a sometimes heated debate over transferring $60 million from the Douglas J. Johnson Economic Protection Trust fund to the general fund.

Iron Range legislators were upset because the trust fund is is fueled by taconite production taxes and is meant to help steady the local economy once mining wraps up. The plan enraged Rep. Tom Rukavina to the point where he proposed an amendment that would have tapped into the finances of Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Lakeville as an alternate source for the funds.

The debate that followed included these comments from Rosemount state legislator Rep. Kurt Bills, who tweeted this comment about the exchange on Wednesday:

I got some things off my chest Tuesday on the House floor...even venting at times.

After 90 minutes of debate, Rep. Rukavina withdrew his amendment, telling House members he felt he had made his point about the unfairness of the proposal. "I wouldn’t do what you’re doing," he told his fellow House members. "I wouldn’t steal from your children like you’re doing to mine."

To see video of Rep. Bills comments, click the video link on the right of this story.