St. Paul – Today, the Minnesota House considered the Omnibus Job Growth and Energy Affordability bill. The bill contains a provision changing the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board to a legislative commission advisory in nature.
State Reps. Jason Metsa (DFL – Virginia) and Rob Ecklund (DFL – International Falls) released the following statement:
“We’re disappointed in the direction the Republican bill goes in dismantling the structure of this board. This is a drastic overreach relative to the changes recommended by the Legislative Auditor and will make IRRRB expenditures subject to review by non-Iron Range legislators. No other local property tax dollars are scrutinized this way anywhere else in the state and it’s wholly inappropriate to treat taconite production tax dollars that way either
“From the local input we’ve heard, this isn’t the approach our constituents want the Legislature to take. We’ve been working on a bill for well over a year that both complies with the Legislative Auditor’s recommendations regarding the IRRRB’s constitutionality while also ensuring proper accountability. As the Range economy goes up and down the work of the IRRRB is critical to maintaining our way of life, and we’re committed to making the necessary improvements so it can do so into the future.”
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