We ALL Think Kids Need To Learn Civics
This week I also had an opportunity to sub in and 'teach civics for a day.' This is the second time this year I have been invited to participate with a group of 12 home school students working through HERO. The students and I spent a great hour talking about some specific legislation - HF 874, Hassan (proposed Constitutional Amendment regarding education that has significant concerns for home schools) and HF 1528, Erickson (Education Savings Accounts) on which I am a co-author. HF 1528 seeks to establish a 5 year pilot program to expand non-public education options for all students.
In addition to those specific pieces of legislation, we discussed the "School House Rock" version of Civics education and how that varies from the real process we work through as legislators. Last visit we talked about the difference between a Republic and a Democracy. These opportunities are a wonderful chance for me to interact with those who will be running the show in coming years and I look forward to going back again!
Emissions Standards Comment Period
Last chance to submit initial comments
We have another opportunity for you to share your voice directly to state government. As you may have heard, the Walz administration is attempting to adopt California emissions standards here in Minnesota through rule-making so as to completely bypass the Legislature after failing to get their agreement.
This is your chance to express your opinions on the rules they are proposing. If you haven't seen the proposed rules yet, here is the proposed rule itself: Proposed Permanent Rules Relating to Clean Cars?
The are LITERALLY taking the California law and changing the words to make it law for Minnesota while completely skipping the Legislature:
1.6 Subp. 2. Incorporation by reference. California Code of Regulations, title 13, sections
1.7 1900, 1956.8(h) (medium-duty vehicle greenhouse gas emission standards only), 1961.2,
1.8 1961.3, 1962.2, 1962.3, 1965, 1968.2, 1976, 1978, 2035, 2037 to 2041, 2046, 2062, 2109,
1.9 2111 to 2121, 2122 to 2135, 2139, and 2141 to 2149, as amended, are incorporated by
1.10 reference. The regulations are not subject to frequent change and are available online at
1.11 https://oal.ca.gov/publications/ccr/.
1.12 Subp. 3. Term substitutions. In applying the incorporated sections of the California
1.13 Code of Regulations, unless the context requires otherwise:
1.14 A. "California" means "Minnesota";
1.15 B. "CARB," "ARB," or "Air Resources Board" means the agency; and
1.16 C. "Executive Officer" means the commissioner.
You can read through any and all of the documentation here: Amendments adopting Low-Emission Vehicle and Zero-Emission Vehicle air pollution standards.
See the notice below from the MPCA with instructions for how to proceed or go to their site: MPCA Clean Cars MN.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is working to adopt a new rule to reduce vehicle emissions and make more electric vehicles available to consumers in Minnesota, known as the Clean Cars Minnesota rulemaking.
The current open comment period closes on
Monday, March 15, 2021 at 4:30 p.m.
Reminder: How to submit a comment
Write your question or comment down and submit through the Office of Administrative Hearings e-comments website, or by fax or mail according to the instructions in the public notice.
Step-by-step instructions for how to submit a comment and attach documents is available on the Office of Administrative hearings website:
Directions for using the rulemaking e-comments website
All comments regarding the proposed rule must be sent to Administrative Law Judge Palmer-Denig to be included in the official rulemaking record.
There will be a rebuttal period that follows this comment deadline but I encourage everyone to read through the rule itself at least and submit your comments before it is too late.
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