St. Paul – State Representative Tony Albright (R-Prior Lake) announced he will oppose HF 976, the Environment and Agriculture Policy and Finance Omnibus bill, during a vote today on the floor of the Minnesota House of Representatives. The bill would unfairly harm residents of Scott County through dozens of new fees and taxes, permitting rule changes, and higher costs on everyday household products. Albright issued this statement on the bill:
“HF 976 is a monstrous overreach into the lives of every citizen in Scott County for the purpose of serving special environmental interests that have had a heavy presence at the Minnesota legislature this year. The bill raises at least $14 million in new fees and taxes on our hardworking taxpayers, farmers and businesses through water permit fees, lake property and well water fees, mining permit fees, commercial animal waste fees and more. It grows the size of government in St. Paul through new, permanent environmental bureaucrats that will monitor citizen activities and impose new regulations throughout our economy.
Besides the new bureaucracy established in this bill that will kill jobs and disrupt areas like ours, HF 976 spends millions on new wasteful projects, such as:
-
$300,000 for bee pollinator habitat restoration that is visible to the public, along state trails. Earmarks up to $50,000 of that money for pollinator habitat signage and public awareness.
-
$50,000 for pollinator habitat education and outreach efforts
-
$2,799,000 to the Environmental Quality Board to form an “advisory team” that could eliminate the frac sand mining industry in Minnesota
-
$300,000 for new restrooms at a public water access on Crane Lake
-
$26,000 to advertise the availability of critical habitat license plates
Finally, some in St. Paul from both parties (myself included) have proposed streamlining the state’s permitting process to give businesses more comfort in expanding or locating here. This provision was never even given a hearing and was not included by House Democrats in the final bill. I am disappointed in the complete disregard this bill has for economic freedom and hardworking taxpayers.”
Albright can be reached by phone at (651) 296-5185. He can also be contacted via e-mail at rep.tony.albright@house.mn, or via U.S. Mail at 387 State Office Building, St. Paul, MN 55155.