Letter: Lawmakers, get your work done

To the Editor:

I see state Sen. John Howe is calling for a statewide generic economic impact statement on silica sand mining in southeastern Minnesota during specials.

While I am glad to see that Howe is taking notice of an extremely treacherous mining practice, I am concerned that bringing this issue to “special session” places much needed flood relief in peril. One only has to look at the complete dysfunction of the Legislature over the past two years to understand that dealing with multiple complex issues in a short time frame is virtually impossible for this group of legislators.

Furthermore, Howe has had two regular legislative sessions to stop the pillaging of our natural resources and has done nothing of note. Almost everyone who has attended any of the meetings regarding silica mining has walked away with an understanding that this practice is not in the best interests of Minnesota. For Howe to jump on board now smacks of political opportunism.

On several occasions in the past, it was our area that was decimated by severe flooding. As a Legislature, we worked quickly and in bipartisan manner to help ease the suffering of our fellow Minnesotans.

Instead of giving us more bickering, partisanship, and constitutional amendments, I would hope that the Legislature takes the route of previous legislatures during “special session” and just gets their work done.

Steve Murphy

St. Paul

Steve Murphy was the longtime state senator for the Red Wing area.

Tags: opinion, letters