Issue Position: Clean and Healthy Environment

Issue Position

We all rely on the earth for life. We all share the air we breathe, the water we drink, the land that produces our food, clothing and everything we use. Our wild and natural areas are entrusted to us while we're here. Once gone, they're lost forever. No individual and no company should be allowed to simply use our atmosphere, our surface and ground water and our land as a free and open sewer. No profit motive should justify voracious consumption of limited or finite resources.

The level of pro-corporate, anti-environmental extremism on the part of Republicans in the legislature is staggering. Bill after bill, written by a national group formed by corporations, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), to eliminate every meaningful environmental protection regulation, raiding resources devoted to our environment, lift the lid on unhampered exploitation of our most sensitive natural areas, and turn our backs on even the most basic protections for human and animal health.

Clean Water. Moving ahead aggressively on a wide array of measures and policies to restore the40% of our waters that are impaired, and protecting those that aren't, is vital. Copper nickel mining, new to Minnesota, must not result in the destruction of our most pristine northern lakes.

Invasive Species. Past inaction means that in the coming years our entire ash tree population will be destroyed by the emerald ash borer. Other river systems have seen a total ecological collapse from Asian carp, which we know to be on its way to Minnesota. Manage the spread and impact of both aquatic and terrestrial invasive species is everyone's responsibility -- Strong regulations, enforcement, education and personal responsibility all play a part. Ballast water prohibitions in the Great Lakes to bans on transporting wood into and out of its areas of origin.

Natural Resources. Preserving our diminishing natural areas for future generations to enjoy, in both the metro area where development encroaches rapidly, as well as in greater Minnesota, and thus ensuring that environmental systems and our state's wildlife continue to flourish is important. Securing and protecting funds, especially our legacy funds established by the voters, is fundamental.

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