Hello from St. Paul,
Funding for a new Hastings Veterans Home took another step forward this week. The Minnesota House Capital Investment Committee heard my proposal that would allocate nearly $60 million in bonding proceeds for full reconstruction of the campus. A similar cash appropriation bill was heard recently in the Labor, Industry, Veterans and Military Affairs committee.
Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Larry Herke testified in support of the bill.
The buildings on the Hastings site have been around since the early 1900’s and are in dire need of updating. The men and women who fought for our freedoms always deserve the best. Creating a new facility at the Hastings Veterans Home would go a long way towards achieving that goal.
EVEN HIGHER GAS PRICES ON THE WAY?
On Tuesday, the Walz administration released the Clean Fuels Standards report, which details the Governor's plans to implement expensive new California-style fuel regulations that could add 20-50 cents/gallon or more to Minnesotans' gas prices without a single cent going toward roads and bridges. The Minnesota House Climate and Energy Policy and Finance Committee also held hearings on the topic this week.
The report indicated that the Walz administration may attempt to implement these controversial new regulations via rulemaking — the same unilateral approach it took with California Car regulations that add $1,000 or more to the cost of new vehicles.
Most of us are already feeling the financial pinch of higher food, heat, and gasoline costs, and the thought that the governor could single-handedly make things even worse is a tough pill to swallow. Research shows that if California Clean Fuel Standards are put in place in Minnesota, the average household would spend additional $210 to $570 per year, every year, just to fill their gas tanks. Of course, that’s in addition to the roughly $4 per gallon we’re already paying for gasoline.
If the governor bypasses the legislature and goes the rulemaking route on Clean Fuel Standards, the Legislature would be powerless to do anything about this 20 – 50 cent per gallon increase.
OUT AND ABOUT
I was honored to give closing remarks at a Hastings event Tuesday night that celebrated National Women’s History Month and Vietnam Veterans Day. My thanks to organizer Dean Markuson and those who participated and attended the gathering.
Have a good weekend,
Tony