Dear neighbors,
I hope you all had a good weekend. We’re beginning another busy week at the Capitol, so stay tuned for updates. You can follow me on Facebook for the latest news and information.
Equal Rights Amendment
Everyone deserves to have equal rights under the law, regardless of gender. Last Thursday, the House passed a bill (HF 13) that would allow voters to decide if the Equal Rights Amendment should be included in Minnesota’s constitution. This amendment reads “equality under the law shall not be abridged or denied on account of gender.” I was proud to cast my vote in favor of gender equality for all Minnesotans.
Reducing Salt Use
Salt applied to our roads, sidewalks, and parking lots ends up in our lakes, rivers, and streams, harming fish and plant life. There is no way to remove the road salt after water has been polluted. I’ve introduced a plan to train and certify applicators to use salt more effectively (HF 1502). In other communities, this program has successfully reduced salt usage by as much as 70 percent.
The first public hearing for this bill was held last week. You can listen to the testimony here.
Water Gremlin Update
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency recently announced that they have reached a settlement with Water Gremlin regarding the company’s chemical emissions. Details on the terms of that agreement are available here. If you weren’t able to attend the second public meeting held by the MPCA, you can also watch the full meeting here for more information.
Many constituents have shared their concerns about long-term community health impacts and lack of input from residents. I very much understand your worries and frustration. It’s clear that the health and trust of the community have been damaged. I will continue to listen to residents and advocate for community members to have a say in what remedies will be used to address the harm done to public health.
Please continue to share your questions and feedback on these issues and others that are important to you. I can be reached at rep.peter.fischer@house.mn or 651-297-8129.
Sincerely,
Peter Fischer
State Representative