If you'd like to contact Rep. Dippel, please do NOT reply to this email. Rep. Dippel can be reached at rep.tom.dippel@house.mn.gov Hello from the State Capitol, This week, Hastings Mayor Mary Fasbender and City Administrator Dan Wietecha joined me at a Minnesota House Capital Investment hearing. They support my bill that would secure $16.7 million in bonding proceeds to help pay for a water treatment plant and associated water lines in the city.  Hastings needs a water treatment facility after PFAS (per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances) contaminants were discovered in its water supply, and a connection was found between Cottage Grove’s 3M facility and the PFAS in a city well in Hastings. The bill was held over for possible inclusion in a comprehensive House capital investment proposal. There has been plenty of talk on who should pay for the pollution – and how. The first bill I introduced this session, seen here, would utilize the 3M settlement fund to pay for Hastings PFAS. I wanted to draw your attention to the video below from March of 2007. In it, former State Representative Denny McNamara asks the 3M vice president in the House environment committee if their chemicals were found in Hastings’ water, would 3M step up to pay for it. The 3M vice president said, “We would step up in a very responsible way. We take responsibility for our materials. You can count on 3M.” Click here to watch their interaction. PAIR OF PROPOSALS PASS The Minnesota House approved a pair of bills on a bipartisan basis Thursday. The first prevents nonprofits from making campaign expenditures or spending money for political purposes if it receives state funding. Whether or not nonprofits are engaging in political activity, Minnesotans deserve to know that pay-to-play tactics aren’t influencing our elections. The mere perception of public money influencing elections is enough to damage public confidence, and this bill prevents it from happening. The second proposal establishes a savings program for state agencies to encourage them to innovate and identify efficiencies and cost savings. We’re facing down a $5 billion deficit after Democrats increased state budget spending by nearly 40% over the last two years. This program will address that by encouraging innovation and cost savings in state agencies. ENDING GOVERNOR’S ABUSE OF EMERGENCY POWERS Remember during the pandemic when the legislature gave Governor Walz emergency powers and then he refused to give them up? He basically ran the state as he saw fit for 475 days. Governor Walz set a dangerous precedent by hijacking emergency powers for political gain while destroying our state. He dictated which businesses could survive and which ones had to die. He forced kids out of school, wrecked small businesses, and trampled personal freedoms—all without legislative approval. A bill considered on the House floor this week would address this problem. Specifically, this bill makes sure that any peacetime emergency declaration that lasts beyond 14 days must have broad bipartisan support from the legislature. In an emergency, swift action is necessary, but long-term governance by a single executive without legislative input is undemocratic.  PRESERVING GIRLS SPORTS RALLY AT CAPITOL MONDAY The Minnesota House is set to debate the Preserve Girls’ Sports Act legislation on Monday. To quickly summarize it, the bill would prevent biologically-born boys from playing in girls’ sports in Minnesota. A rally will be held at the State Capitol at 11:00 AM, and several notable supporters will be in attendance. They include Riley Gaines, a 12-time NCAA All-American swimmer and maybe the nation’s leading girls' sports advocate; former Minnesota Viking Jack Brewer, who is a passionate local advocate for preserving girls’ athletics; and other state lawmakers who support the cause. Have a good weekend, Tom |