District 11 State Senator Jim Elliott (D) is ready for his first budget session, and thought that several issues on his table would be very important topics in the senate this year.

As part of his job on one committee, the Joint Senate Agriculture, State and Public Lands and Water Resources, Elliott has been preparing himself for the upcoming session, and making sure the state gets a fair shake with water resources.

Elliott explained that the Million pipeline project will encounter particular scrutiny in the state government.

“An export bill passed last year but many were not satisfied, so a new bill may be pushed into the general session,” Elliott said.

Elliott said that he has also encountered serious opposition to a potential toll on Interstate 80 within the state’s boundaries.

“A lot of commuters are concerned in Carbon County,” Elliott said.

Elliott, like District 47 Representative Jeb Steward (R), also feels that wind development in the state will be an aspect of the session that will need to be tackled.

“We encourage wind development to come in, but we also must weigh and balance the development, so residents and landowners of Carbon County are treated fairly,” Elliott said.

“I am a co-sponsor with Kermit Brown on a bill that would suspend emminent domain for one year on wind development areas,” Elliott said.

“Wind development companies must pay their fair share, for things like road construction, police, and fire, to name a few services that the county and local governments must provide at the development,” Elliott explained.

Elliott also said that the majority of the companies interested in developing wind power in the state are agreeable to taxation, but “the disagreement comes with what is the fair share.”

Elliott said the majority of his constituents support the Governor’s proposed excise tax.