Capitol Letter for May 9, 2022
The Capitol Letter™ is a recurring publication that provides reports from LWV Minnesota volunteer Observer Corps and Lobby Corps members on what is happening in the current legislative session.
Climate Change
Fond du Lac Band speaks out against PolyMet
The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa’s wetlands would be in danger from pollutants released from the upstream PolyMet mine, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The band’s cultural and sustenance resources are protected from federally approved water quality standards that PolyMet, for its part, says it will not be impaired and they will improve mercury levels with a water management plan. The permit, issued back in 2019, allowed PolyMet to dig a mine pit and stock waste rock on wetlands part of the Superior National Forest. These wetlands drain into the Partridge and Embarrass rivers, which connect to the St. Louis River. If reinstated, the mine could be a “significant potential source of mercury” for the tribe, as it would enter their water supply, which could affect their fishing, hunting, and gathering practices. Written comments can be sent to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers by June 6.
Legislators divided on environment, climate change spending
The House has $650 million for climate bills and more in the infrastructure package. The Republican-controlled Senate, however, only has an $8 million environment and natural resources bill. Some clean energy projects like “Solar for Schools” are likely to become law, while weatherization still has a chance, in Rep. Jaime Long’s (DFL–Minneapolis) opinion. Governor Walz and DFL lawmakers want the state to achieve 100% clean energy by 2040, but Senators voted the proposal down. Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen (R–Alexandria) argues that our planet has been “warming for thousands of years”, as he joins many Republicans who don’t find climate change a pressing issue. With only weeks left in this year’s legislative session, many are not optimistic any bipartisan action will be taken to address climate change in Minnesota.
Transportation deal faces similar partisan differences
Both chambers want to spend around $1 billion of the state’s surplus to address transportation issues, like making driving easier and safer by increasing funding for roads, highways, and bridges. The House has more money for electric vehicle charging infrastructure, biking and walking, and passenger rail like the Duluth-to-Minneapolis proposal and a second Amtrak from St. Paul to Chicago. The Senate, on the other hand, is zeroing in on driving safety upgrades, like aircrafts for monitoring speeding and cameras attached to school buses, as they release their proposal to tax electric vehicle owners. Additionally, the Republican Senate wants to cancel funds for the project “Reconnect Rondo”, which has been lobbying MnDOT to build a land bridge over I-94 in the historically black neighborhood, which was physically cut in half when the highway was constructed in the 1960s.
These transportation-funding differences only illustrate a similar theme felt this session: a deep, unforgiving partisan divide. A conference committee will likely address these funding differences.
Democracy
Senate approves House omnibus bill
HF4293 passed in the Senate last week. The omnibus finance bill covers state government, elections, veterans and transportation policy, and supplemental funding. The bill intends to bring “greater transparency and security” to the election process. It includes recording ballot submission processes, having each voter submit their own ballot, and calls for absentee ballots to be printed with a security marking on the paper. Additionally, ballot boxes will have to be located within 100 feet of the county auditor or municipal clerk’s office. It was passed on a “divided” 40-26 vote.
Other Legislative News
How could the end of Roe affect Minnesotans?
Early last week a draft opinion was leaked from the Supreme Court, implying a plan to overturn the decision of Roe v. Wade. The landmark 1973 decision legalized abortion nationwide, ruling that the 14th amendment’s Due Process Clause includes a “right to privacy” that protects the choice of having an abortion. This did not legalize all abortions; second and third trimester were regulated or prohibited.
In the event that Roe is overturned, individual states would have the right to regulate or ban abortions in their own state. Two dozen states have laws in place that would immediatley restriction all abortions. Abortion is likely to remain legal in Minnesota. It is constitutionally protected under the 1995 decision in Doe v. Gomez, though does include restrictions including a 24-hour waiting period, mandated counseling, and a requirement that minors notify both parents. Republican lawmakers have already introduced proposals that seek to limit access to abortions, including “outsourcing enforcement of law to private citizens”. These measures are unlikely to gain traction, as it falls on party lines and Governor Tim Walz has repeatedly spoken in support of women’s right to choose.
AG Ellison calls to cancel student loan debt
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, along with several other state attorney generals, sent President Biden a letter, requesting that all student loan debt be erased via an executive order. The letter states:
“Such action would benefit millions of borrowers and be one of the most impactful racial and economic justice initiatives in recent memory…cancelation of federal student loan debts will reduce stress and mental fatigue, free families to invest in new homes and new lives, and provide countless opportunities.”
This follows after President Biden reports he’s taking a “hard look” at canceling some federal student loan debt, one of his campaign promises.
Observer Corps Reports
House Floor Session - May 4, 2022
Submitted by LWVMN Observer Corps Member Amy Caucutt
Two big bills were up on May 4, 2022 on the House floor: taxes (HF3669) and Jobs-economic development-energy-climate change (SF4091). Rep. Marquart’s tax bill went first, probably because DFL leadership thought it would be faster with only two pre-listed amendments’ while Rep. Noor’s other bill had 20. However, Rep. Bahr’s amendment paying Anoka County what they saw as an outstanding bill for providing deputy help during the riots following George Floyd’s murder from Minneapolis’ LGA allocation went on and on. It was an interesting way to get a discussion of the need for policing on the floor since it will be an election issue. Amendment did not pass, but the tax bill did which includes lots more money for local governments to spend on law enforcement, etc. All the oxygen was sucked out of the tax debate by the issue of the Anoka county invoice!
Rep. Noor’s bill (SF4091) is huge. No Republican amendments were added, but Rep. Greenman had a big amendment to make part-time school employees like bus drivers and lunch room cooks eligible for unemployment insurance. This bill includes the DFL plan for family medical leave benefits. Rep. Richardson’s amendment creates a better way of tracking catalytic converters, thus drying up the market for stolen ones was opposed by Republicans as an expensive mandate on auto dealers, but it passed. I was a little amazed that GOP Rep. Robbins had a substantial item in this bill about protecting kids from bad social media, which she was allowed to speak to for over 15 minutes, thanking the author for putting it into the bill, but telling him she was still a “no” vote.
Articles 17-25 (pages 191-304) are the ones pertaining to energy and climate change. Republican members found fault with these sections stressing that the real problem is the cost of energy and this bill will do nothing or make it more expensive. Their other arguments included that we should mine in Northeastern Minnesota instead of importing from countries with child slave labor and no environmental regulations. Rep. Gruenhagen made his usual speech about global warming being a hoax and thousands of scientists say CO2 is good for the environment. There was also an interesting argument by Rep. Scott and others who worried that the bill did not address how to dispose of used windmill blades or solar panels.
Rep. Long (chief author of the climate-energy portion of the bill) talked about the enhanced program for weatherization bringing Minnesota up to Wisconsin usage, with 2/3 being spent in rural areas. There is protection for natural gas users following the crisis caused by the polar vortex in Texas last year. The bill creates:
“[A] policy framework for electric vehicles by allowing or requiring EV charging stations at rest stops, state parks, and county government centers. There are funds for electric buses, solar on schools, government buildings and at the Ford site. There will be help to communities transitioning from coal and for communities gearing up for the climate crisis. There are items to increase climate justice including a program to upgrade electric panels in lower income homes…collective action problems are not easy, but we must get it right. The good news is we still have options, and renewables were the largest source of energy in Minnesota last year. This is about Minnesotan jobs and Minnesotan money. We sent $13B out of state last year for energy.”
Bill passed 69-62 (with three members absent) on party line vote and will ultimately go to a conference committee where the only climate items are: handling the spike in natural gas prices last year, a little something to handle communities transitioning from a coal plane, a small amount to expand solar on schools, and a rescission of the nuclear moratorium. Both the House and Senate have language developing a study committee on use of nuclear power.