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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Jeff Howe (R)

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Roundup of recent issues

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Dear Neighbor,

A ceremonial signing took place Thursday for a bill I authored which bans several flame-retardant chemicals which contain highly carcinogenic toxins. These flame retardants being used in an attempt to save lives often have detrimental effects — especially among children and firefighters — by creating a poison­ous environment.

On another fire-related note, the Minnesota Court of Appeals last week repealed a requirement that fire sprinkler systems be installed in new homes of 4,500 square feet or larger. The court ruling said the mandate is "arbitrary" and was not the product of "scientific principles, approved tests, and professional judgment."

This rule was not a product of the legislative process, rather a Department of Labor and Industry rule which became effective just last January. I am concerned about the rule making process and how the Department of Labor and Industry mis-handled this process. It is good to see sprinklers will remain an option for people to consider for safety as they design a new home.

Among recent meetings I recently attended was one discussion of veterans hospitals and another conversation regarding groundwater quality.

The meeting to address groundwater was hosted by the DNR and it included a wide variety of stakeholders, with agriculture, wildlife, lake associations, local government groups and more represented. Issues regarding contamination levels in groundwater need to be resolved before the Department of Natural Resources is scheduled to come to the Legislature with proposed changes in mid-December.

In my mind, the bottom line is we need consistency so people know what to expect from the DNR. Right now, even sections within the DNR are on different pages. Some want to uphold current stream quality, while others want to bring them up to what they could be. We need to get those goals in line to avoid varying regulatory interpretations.

There are some tough questions that remain unanswered. Among them is determining how water appropriations are distributed to current and future permits. This discussion will continue and I welcome input from constituents as we work to find acceptable resolutions. Citizen participation is very important to establishing a better system.

On a side note, I recently wrote about invasive algae in Lake Koronis. The DNR is attempting to combat starry stonewort with herbicide at the Highway 55 access – the lake's main access – will be closed until the lake freezes. Let's hope this shows positive results.

As for the veterans meeting, I participated in a productive roundtable event at the St. Augusta Legion with U.S. Reps. Tom Emmer and Tim Walz, fellow state Rep. Tama Theis, various veterans groups and concerned citizens. The meeting focused on VA hospital issues, particularly a hostile work environment at the St. Cloud VA.

The St. Cloud Veterans Affairs Medical Center and union representatives agreed to go to mediation to resolve the situation. As a longtime veteran, it disappoints me this corrosiveness is causing us to lose valuable care providers. Some people seem to think this is just a rural Minnesota problem, but I believe the issue may be more wide spread.

Our VA system may need to be revamped and it is good we are having this discussion. I would propose conducting a survey of the administration's climate to learn more about what may be causing this tension. I also would also propose a panel or team that would evaluate facilities and report its findings.

It is encouraging the VA and union representatives have agreed to go to mediation to work out their differences. I am hopeful that this will provide results.

Good luck,

Jeff