Hello Friends!
I just wanted to touch base with everyone. This week was filled with committee briefings. We held informational briefings in order to get current updates from many of our state agencies and departments. This will continue for a few more weeks. We will also start hearing more bills in committee as they work their way through the process.
March for Life
This week I was humbled to stand alongside thousands of my fellow Minnesotans at the Capitol rally in support of Life. About 4,000 people attended the event on Thursday, January 22nd, to remember the Roe v.s. Wade decision. I am so proud of the folks who traveled to St. Paul to brave the cold in order to stand up for and to remember all the unborn.
God bless you!
In Progress
This week, I turned in my first bill to address the dark future of our clean-affordable coal power plants. The EPA has ordered Minnesota to reduce its carbon emissions by 42%. The state must come up with its own plan on how to reach this mandate.
At this time, the plan will be due in about one year. Minnesota is in the middle of the pack when it comes to the amount of carbon it produces. Yet, Minnesota is in the top 10 of all states when it comes to EPA forced carbon reductions!
A 42% reduction is unacceptable to me.
Below is a listing of what our neighboring states are being forced to comply with.
North Dakota 11%
South Dakota 35%
Iowa 16%
Wisconsin 34%
Michigan 31%
Illinois 33%
Does this look unfair to you?
The bill I authored will not allow any state agency to simply "send the finished plan off to the EPA".
This means, before ANY plan to comply with this forced EPA mandate goes into effect, it must FIRST come back to the legislature for final approval.
The response to this in the Minnesota House has been enormous. 34 Representatives signed on to this bill as co-authors. 9 of them are among our friends on the other side of the aisle. This is an excellent example of a bi-partisan effort to do what is best for Minnesota.
I plan to author many more bills to save our clean-affordable power plants this year. This bill is the first step in the right direction.
In the Future
Many folks are concerned about the added regulations to address the Aquatic Invasive Species problem. The DNR's education and sticker program has gone too far and is discouraging people from boating and fishing. We heard about his issue in committee and will be drafting legislation to deal with this over-reach.
Thank you to all of you for your friendship and support.
It is an honor to serve you in St. Paul!
God's peace,
Jim