ST. PAUL - Minnesota House Republicans blocked an effort to debate an oil train safety bill Thursday, citing that the legislation was introduced just last week and more work is needed to prepare a response to oil train explosion fears.
Rep. Paul Marquart, D-Dilworth, asked fellow representatives to suspend the rules and immediately debate his bill to improve railroad crossing safety. Money would be gained by adding assessments and property taxes to railroads. Marquart's effort failed 58-71.
"Our residents want to know help is on the way," Marquart said.
A report a week ago showed 326,170 Minnesotans live within the half-mile "danger zone" of railroad tracks that carry up to seven trains a day containing western North Dakota crude oil.
"Communities have a lot smaller margin of error than they have had in the past," Marquart said.
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House Transportation Chairman Tim Kelly, R-Red Wing, said that he, a Democratic lawmaker, governor's staff member and representatives of railroads will meet on the issue April 9, after lawmakers return from an Easter-Passover recess.
Kelly contends that a railroad tax increase Marquart proposes is against federal law, which would send the state into an expensive court battle.
