ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Legislature has sent a $167.5 million flood aid package to Gov. Mark Dayton, who pressed for the money to rebuild washed-out roads, repair flooded basements and restore ravaged state parks after severe floods and storms.
The Senate approved the bill 60-7 after it passed the House on a 125-3 vote on Friday.
The Democratic governor has said he is ready to quickly sign the bill into law.
Republican House Speaker Kurt Zellers says disaster relief is the Legislature's job.
Flash floods wiped out roads and killed zoo animals in Duluth in June before moving downstream to communities including Moose Lake and Thomson. Floods also hit counties in the central and southeastern part of the state, and an early July windstorm damaged forests and power lines in northern Minnesota.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
