St. Paul, MN—State Representative Spencer Igo, R-Grand Rapids, issued the following statement regarding a letter Senator Tina Smith sent to the Biden Administration effectively asking for a moratorium on copper-nickel mining near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
“I wish I could say this comes as a surprise, but Senator Tina Smith has finally shown her true colors as an anti-mining Senator,” said Rep. Igo. “In writing this letter, Senator Smith has made one thing clear, she does not stand with the hard-working men and women of labor or for the continued prosperity of northeastern Minnesota.
“We have been mining safely and responsibly for over 140 years with the world’s greatest environmental standards. The Senator says that mining is an important tradition in northeastern Minnesota, yet she continues to play politics with the families and jobs of our region. Her stance is a clear deviation from the process Governor Walz wants to follow. Where is the Governor? Is he willing to stand up for the working men and women of the Iron Range? This letter makes clear that Senator Smith is willing to leave my community to fend for itself. While she throws up additional roadblocks, I remain steadfast in my commitment to safe and responsible mining in Minnesota.”
Rep. Igo is chief author of a House resolution that affirms the Minnesota House of Representatives’ commitment to encouraging Minnesota’s technology and medical companies to utilize Minnesota-mined minerals when manufacturing products and a bill that would declare Minnesota a mining-friendly State.
A copy of that resolution can be found here and a copy of the bill here.
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