Senate pulls funds for Friends

Mining and politics intersected in the Minnesota State Senate earlier this week, as senators narrowly passed an amendment that pulled state funding from the Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness.

An amendment that removed $1.25 million in state environmental trust fund money for the group passed 34-29, largely on party lines, although Democrat John Hoffman of St. Paul crossed party lines to vote in favor of pulling the funding.

State Sen. Grant Hauschild (D-Hermantown) did not vote on the amendment.