Bill seeks to restrict use of military plate fund

Legislators moved quickly Monday to close what they see as loopholes in how money from the state's "Support Our Troops" license plate money is used, after revelations that money from the plates partly funded the salary of a political appointee in Gov. Tim Pawlenty's office last year.

Legislation was introduced that would restrict the use of the fund and require reporting to the Legislature if transfers are made from the account. The measure, sponsored by Sen. Rick Olseen, DFL-Harris, in the Senate, and Rep. Kory Kath, DFL-Owatonna, in the House, would also require that the $30,000 transferred from the fund last year be returned.

That money was used to partly fund the $92,000 salary of a member of Pawlenty's staff who was designated a special adviser for faith and community services. While the governor's office said it was the decision of the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs to use the money, Veterans Affairs Deputy Commissioner Michael Pugliese acknowledged last week that a Pawlenty policy adviser first broached the subject with him. Nevertheless, Pugliese said the work by the staffer, Lee Buckley, was exemplary and well within the bounds of what state law designated for the money. Buckley's job was eliminated last year, and she has been placed in a similar position working on faith-based community outreach at the Department of Corrections.

Last year the plate fund generated almost $930,000. The money is split between the Department of Military Affairs, for family members of deployed service members, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, for grants to service organizations such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion and for a program to reach out to homeless, female and minority veterans.

Motorists donate at least $30 for the plates, which feature an eagle in front of a flowing American flag.

MARK BRUNSWICK