state leaders prepare for 2012 session

Contentious debate on Minnesota’s current environmental protection standards filled the 2011 State Legislative Session. Legislative leaders used the state’s deficit situation and “government reform” rhetoric in attempts to weaken environmental regulations, showing disappointing parallels to actions underway in Congress. Although Clean Water Action and allies stopped some of the most extreme, destructive anti-environmental initiatives put forth in 2011, special interests and corporate polluters clearly found much support in both the State House and Senate. With help from Gov. Mark Dayton, bills to weaken water protections, lift the nuclear moratorium, and remove restrictions on new coal plants were all turned back. However, polluters were successful in exploiting loopholes to weaken environmental review laws and circumvent the permitting process. There is every reason to expect these attacks to continue in 2012.