Hello Neighbor,

We are at the end of week three in the Minnesota Senate. So far this session, I have held two informational hearings in the Labor and Industry Committee that I chair, and I have had hearings on two bills for our local area.

In my role as vice-chair for the Senate Higher Education Committee, I have also had the privilege of meeting virtually with most of the University of Minnesota Regent candidates and have gotten to know their vision for the future of the University.

I am looking forward to the next weeks here at the legislature and building consensus for common sense solutions to problems faced by Minnesotans. You can review the legislation that I have introduced here.

Senate Committee Work

Two Local Bills Heard in Property Taxes Subcommittee

On Wednesday, I was pleased to join Russell Kurhajetz from the Board of Supervisors for the Carlton County SWCD as I presented SF60. This bill would create a  pilot project in Pine and Carlton counties to help provide more stable funding for the local portion of their Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD). This is a project that has the support of both the Pine and Carlton County Board of Commissioners.

Also, on Wednesday, Matt Ashmore, District Fire Chief for Cloquet Area Fire District (CAFD), joined me to testify in favor of SF87. This bill would bring the CAFD into line with existing state laws for all other Ambulance taxing districts in Minnesota. 

MPCA’s Plan to Adopt California Emission Standards Questioned in the Senate

On Wednesday, the Minnesota Senate held a joint hearing with the Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy and Legacy Committees regarding the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s (MPCA) intention to adopt the California Emission Standards through the administrative rulemaking process.

The Governor’s administration is seeking to implement California’s mandatory auto-emission standards on vehicles sold in Minnesota by bypassing the legislature and using the administrative rulemaking process.

The Governor and the MPCA are pushing forward with their attempt to implement California Emissions Standards on Minnesotans without any legislative input. This doesn’t just mean more expensive cars for all Minnesotans. It threatens people’s livelihoods kicking our economy when it’s down while having a destructive impact across Minnesota communities with little to no environmental gain.

If adopted, the California Emission Standards will rattle Minnesota’s economy, raising transportation costs for lower-income residents and disproportionally hurting rural and border communities. Data suggests that new vehicles’ demand will drop 7.1% and that Minnesotans can expect to pay $800-$2,500 more per vehicle, not just on EVs. 

The “proposed benefit” of the rules also seems questionable based on data from Minnesota and across the nation. Without adopting the standards, MnDOT’s forecast shows that gasoline usage has already hit its peak and is projected to decline exponentially in the future.  Furthermore, states like Pennsylvania, which already have adopted the standards, have a smaller percentage of EVs than Minnesota.

This data suggests that Minnesota’s market is already moving towards cleaner and more efficient cars, with more models hitting lots yearly. Like the energy industry, consumers seem to be determining the trend with demand as EVs become more affordable and the technology becoming more accessible. Unfortunately, using their rulemaking power, the MPCA and Governor do not offer any financial incentive to consumers, expecting Minnesota families to front the bill.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has begun hosting public information sessions in the agency’s effort to impose the California Car Mandate on Minnesotans. In addition to conducting a public information session on Tuesday, the MPCA will be holding another one Wednesday, and additional sessions are scheduled for January 27 and February 2. You can find more information for them at https://www.pca.state.mn.us/air/clean-cars-mn-rulemaking.

Minnesotans who wish to submit public comments can either attend one of the planned virtual hearings, they can submit links via the Office of Administrative Hearings website (https://mn.gov/oah/), or attend a public hearing. The hearings for public comments will take place virtually on February 22 and 23 at 3 p.m.

Annual March for Life

On Friday, thousands of Minnesotans gathered virtually to support the annual March for Life. On January 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions legalized abortion on demand nationwide. Each year, pro-life Minnesotans mark the anniversary by gathering at the Capitol in St. Paul.

I believe in the value of life.  Even when it is unplanned or imperfect, each life carries value. As a legislator, it is my responsibility to represent and protect the unborn. As a state, it should be our goal to ensure that each child is welcomed into life and protected under our laws and that tragic situations should be avoided whenever possible.

A link to the virtual march with comments from members of the legislature and congress can be found here.