FMR Updates

Environment bill becomes law: What’s in & what’s out?

by Trevor Russell

update

June 2, 2017

The Minnesota Legislature's original environment bill was one of the most sweeping anti-environmental bills to advance at the Capitol in many years. Luckily, it was vetoed by Gov. Mark Dayton on May 12. So what made it into the final bill that the governor signed on May 30? Some rollbacks, no water quality progress, but not the worst provisions were removed during final negotiations with the Dayton administration.

Sigh... Environment bill signed. Legacy funds shifted.

by Trevor Russell

update

June 1, 2017

We're pretty sure that when Minnesotans passed the Legacy Amendment, this isn't what they — what we — had in mind. Just signed by Gov. Mark Dayton, the environment bill shifts voter-mandated conservation funds to administrative costs. Thank you to all the River Guardians who tried to prevent this, we look forward to inviting you to happy hour soon to recap the session.

Where the Legislature stands on water & the environment in its final week

by Trevor Russell

update

May 16, 2017

This 2017 Legislature has featured a series of sweeping assaults on our environment, including widespread rollbacks to bedrock environmental finance and policy positions that threaten to undermine water quality and river health throughout the state. Here's where things stand.

Gov. Dayton vetoes awful environmental bill! (But another is on the way.)

by Trevor Russell

update

May 12, 2017

Friday, May 12, Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed a historically bad omnibus environment bill. It sought to give polluters the right to write their own environmental impact statements, slashed funding for environmental agencies and even prevented cities from banning plastic bags. In short, it threatened to undermine Minnesota’s long tradition of protecting the water we drink and the air we breathe.

Stand with FMR at the Governor's Residence - May 15, 4:30-6:30 p.m.

by Trevor Russell

article

May 10, 2017

Come show your support for clean water! Join us in front of the Governor’s Residence at 1006 Summit Avenue, St. Paul. Feel free to bring signs, family and friends. But please RSVP if you can!

Clean water advocates remind Gov. Dayton to stay strong at the Governor's Residence.

Why are MN's largest companies leading the charge to roll back our environmental protections?

article

May 8, 2017

The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce has led many of this legislative session's attacks on our environment. Do the heads of Target, Best Buy, 3M, Medtronic, U.S. Bank, General Mills, Ecolab, Xcel Energy, Hormel and Delta Air Lines know what's being done in their name?

Tell Minnesota companies to #KeepMNClean and #ProtectOurWater.

Pollution Control Agency chief: Anti-environment bills put politics ahead of science

by Trevor Russell

update

April 6, 2017

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Commissioner recently penned a thoughtful commentary on the threat of anti-environmental legislation moving forward at the Minnesota Legislature this session.