Senator Andrew Mathews (R-Milaca), Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Utilities Finance and Policy, issued the following statement concerning Gov. Walz’s decision to continue the Dayton Administration’s Minnesota taxpayer funded lawsuit to oppose the Enbridge Line 3 replacement project:

“Governor Walz flunked his first major test to uphold his campaign promise of “One Minnesota”, instead opting to follow his predecessor and continue supporting a radical, left-wing agenda.

After a comprehensive and exhaustive four-year review process, the Line 3 replacement project was unanimously approved last summer by a Governor-appointed Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC). Further, just last week, the Minnesota Court of Appeals dismissed this lawsuit, along with five others, challenging the project. At that moment, I joined a bipartisan group of over 70 legislators requesting that Governor Walz not appeal this decision.

Yet, Governor Walz continues to delay in court, with Minnesota taxpayer dollars, the Line 3 project that has been extensively vetted and meets our state’s regulatory standards. Not only does this deprive our state from good-paying, sustainable, trade union jobs, but it puts our environment and the safety of every Minnesotan at risk by not transporting oil in the safest way possible. The time to replace Line 3 is now, and I still urge Governor Walz to reconsider this major mistake.”

Senator Andrew Mathews (R-Milaca) serves in the Minnesota State Senate and is the Vice-Chairman of the Energy & Utilities Finance & Policy Committee. He represents District 15, which includes all or portions of Mille Lacs, Kanabec, Sherburne, Benton, and Morrison Counties.