I was appalled when I read some of the comments from anti-mining activists in a recent New York Times article. The environmental activists in the article called our union miners “resentful” and said they “do not know the world exists,” and went on to say that our neighbors “… want somebody to just give them a job so they can all drink beer with their buddies and go four-wheeling and snowmobiling…”

I find these comments deeply offensive. I am proud of our blue-collar workers, our union members, and our mining heritage. I do not see mining as a zero sum game, we can have both clean water and good paying mining jobs.

Just the other day, I attended a public hearing on the new Enbridge Line 3. I saw this same type of divisive talk from Twin Cities environmentalists and members of the Dayton administration. We should be doing everything we can to expand good paying union jobs, not trying to drive the companies that employ them out of business.

I am proud of our community and our workers, and will continue fighting in St. Paul to preserve our way of life in Northern Minnesota.

Senator Justin Eichorn
Grand Rapids