HAPPENINGS TUESDAY AT THE MINNESOTA CAPITOL: INDUSTRIAL HEMP

An attempt failed in a House panel to allow the University of Minnesota to
grow experimental plots of industrial hemp.

Rep. Steve Dehler, R-St. Joseph, said he was disappointed that the bill
lost on a 7-10 vote in the House Crime Prevention Committee.

But he wasn' t conceding defeat and may attempt to revive the bill.

Hemp is a cousin to marijuana and is illegal in Minnesota and most of the
United States. Unlike marijuana, industrial hemp contains virtually none of
the substance that makes it potent for those who smoke it.

Supporters say hemp is a good alternate crop for farmers. Opponents say
legalizing hemp would be an enforcement nightmare because it looks like
marijuana.

" I' ve been a cop for 15 years and I truly believe this is going down the
wrong path, " said committee Chairman Rich Stanek, R-Maple Grove, who voted
against the bill.

The Senate earlier agreed to legalize industrial hemp production provided
the growers register with the state.

Gov. Jesse Ventura has said he supports hemp production.

CAR REGISTRATION(

Sen. Dave Kleis is trying to help out those who sell their cars then find
themselves in a legal bind when the buyer fails to register the car with
the state.

Kleis, R-St. Cloud, is the sponsor of a bill that would give the seller
control of notifying the state when a car has a new owner.

" Frequently, someone buys a car, doesn' t register it, then racks up
parking tickets, moving violations and even DWIs, knowing that the vehicle
is under another person' s name, " he said.

The proposal unanimously passed the House Transportation Committee and went
to the House Transportation Budget Division.

Kleis' proposal would attach a tear-off card to the title. When the car is
sold, the seller would fill out the card and send it to the Department of
Public Service. Purchasers then would have a certain amount of time to
transfer the title and pay the sales tax.

The Senate already approved the bill in both the Transportation and
Transportation Finance committees. PARTY LABELS(

Although Hennepin County Commission candidate Peter Bell is a prominent
Republican, that isn' t apparent from one campaign pamphlet.

" Which Candidate for Hennepin County Commissioner served on Jesse Ventura'
s Transition Team?" is written large and in boldface on the fliers paid for
and mailed by the Republican Party.

The flier also mentions in large type that Bell is " Reform Party Endorsed."

Much, much smaller print highlights Bell' s work as a bank executive vice
president and his social service work.

Bell and DFLer Gail Dorfman sought the seat vacated by DFLer Mark Andrew.
QUOTE OF THE DAY(

" This is a clear case of the dog wagging the tail."

Sen. Tom Neuville, R-Northfield, who most likely meant the opposite when he
criticized the DFL leadership for bringing up a rebate bill before a final
agreement was reached.