It was a pleasure to have the late Gen. John Vessey's daughter, Sarah, and a number of fellow veterans who served with the general at the Capitol as the House approved a bill honoring Gen. Vessey.
Dear Neighbor,
The House has taken action on five bills I authored. We put a bipartisan bill (H.F. 2380) on the governor’s desk to fix the defunct sulfate standard. However, despite over 50 labor union leaders, mayors, and Main Street business and industry leaders from across Minnesota coming to St. Paul to meet with the governor requesting he sign the bill, he vetoed it.
It was very disappointing to see how community leaders were treated. Rather than meeting with them, the governor sent staff. After over an hour of very respectful discussion outlining the severe threat the defunct sulfate standard presents to the survival of their communities, rather than relay their message to the governor, the staff announced he already had decided to veto the bill.
We have a 45-year-old, defunct sulfate standard that is impossible to implement and has not protected a single kernel of wild rice. The bill would have provided a fresh start on protecting wild rice. Despite this bump in the road, I will continue to work on protecting both our rural communities and wild rice.
On a more positive note four bills I authored passed out of the House on strong bi-partisan votes.
- S.F. 1694: Honors the late Gen. John Vessey designating his birthday – June 29 – as Gen. John Vessey Day in Minnesota. Vessey served 46 years in the military, advancing through the ranks from a 16-year-old Minnesota Army National Guard enlistee to a four-star general. Gen. Vessey was selected by President Ronald Reagan to lead the nation’s military forces as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Upon retirement, he lived near Mille Lacs Lake and died in August of 2016 at the age of 94. The bill was sent to the governor.
- S.F. 3004: Adds a voluntary veterans’ status check-off box to state agency appointment applications. That helps us better track how veterans fit into governor and agency commissioner appointments to state boards, councils, commissions, and task forces. The bill was sent to the governor.
- H.F. 2802: Provides regulatory certainty for 16 years to the extent permitted under federal law for newly constructed or recently upgraded municipal waste water treatment plants. The bill is now in the senate.
- H.F. 2847: Updates the membership in the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area Citizens Advisory Council to reflect current organizations that provide members to serve on the council. The bill is now in the senate.
Happy Mother’s Day and good luck as we start the summer fishing season.
Sincerely,
Dale