Dear Friends and Neighbors,

 

I hope you are enjoying the beautiful fall season we have this year.  Lets hope it's a long one and that prognostications of a milder winter hold out.  I have already begun preparations for the upcoming session, meeting with constituents and drafting bills.  

Today Saturday, November 11 is Veterans Day.  Remember to thank a veteran for their service.  Many of our Veterans live a life of service, not just in the military, but they come home and use those leadership skills as valued members of our communities, like my Dad. 

 

The State of Minnesota tries to make that transition from military to civilian life a little easier by offering many opportunities and support services specifically for Veterans, in the areas of education and job training.  If you would like additional information on any of the above items, please visit the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs website at www.mn.gov/mdva/.  Also, you can call 1 (888)-LinkVet (546-5838).  

This past week I joined with State Representatives Pam Altendorf and Steve Jacob to issue a statement condemning the surprise inspections on 2 dairy farms in Southeastern Minnesota by the EPA.  The EPA was acting on a petition by 11 environmental groups who claimed that there were high levels of nitrates in drinking water in Southeastern Minnesota.The EPA has since said that they will force the state to take action or they will. 

 

All but 3 of these groups are based in the Twin Cities or Washington DC, with funding from some of the biggest liberal private foundations in the country. Many of them are very involved in progressive, democrat politics in Minnesota and beyond, through their board members and associated Political Action Funds.  

 

This approach is disturbing for several reasons. First, that outside groups can provoke the Federal EPA to demand access to private property, unannounced. It's important to note that these were small farms, who do not require federal licensure and inspection but are under the purview of the State and/or county.  Second, doing such raids is unnecessarily provocative and not conducive to an investigation unless you've already decided someone is guilty.  Third, unless you are talking about a sudden discharge which is not the case here, nitrate levels don't change overnight.  Finally,  increased nitrate levels could have many different causes depending on the area.  Targeting a single type of activity (Dairy Farming)  seems premature, before we have the data to back it up. 

 

Environmentalists are always telling us to "follow the science." This time, they want to take action before they have any data to present.  We need to look at current farming practices and how they have changed over time to see if this might be helping lower nitrate levels.  

 

Water Quality is a concern to everyone.  The activists know this and are trying to grab attention by sowing fear.  I grew up on a farm and I have been on hundreds of farms as a extension educator.  I know that technology has changed rapidly in the last decade to help farmers make good decisions about their animals and crops without polluting the environment.  They and their families live in that environment. 

 

I will be following this situation closely along with your Representatives and with Congressman Finstad, to find out what is actually happening here and to see what we can do to make this a discussion based on data.  

October is a great month for events in Minnesota, as the harvest comes to a close.  I was able to attend several and two stand out in particular, The Saint Elizabeth's Hospital Field of Dreams fundraiser in Wabasha and the Porch Decorating contest held by Great River Homes.  

 

The Saint Elizabeth's Field of Dreams is annual tradition of farmers in Wabasha, who plant and harvest a field in front of St. Elizabeth's hospital and donate the proceeds to the hospital.  When many communities in Greater Minnesota are losing their local hospitals, St. Elizabeth's continues to have strong support from Wabasha and the surrounding area. 

 

The Great River Homes Halloween Porch Decorating contest is an event put on by Great River Homes, an organization that helps disabled people live independently and semi-independently in homes in Wabasha and Lake City. Rep. Pam Altendorf and Mayor Emily Durand were judges in the contest.  Everybody had a great time and the residents did a fantastic job decorating their porches.  

As a State Senator, I don't usually get involved in international letters and petitions. Nevertheless, I did not hesitate to sign a letter authored by my colleagues in support of Israel and against the genocidal terrorists who struck at Israelis and other visiting nationals, murdering, kidnapping and torturing men, women and children on October 7.  The more we learn about the attack, the easier it is to see that the motive is not more rights for the Palestinian people but instead to destroy Israel and wipe out its people. We must stand against terrorism regardless of the excuses given or the cause. If we don't, the world will become an even more dangerous place than it is now, until we have it right on our doorstep.  To see the letter you can visit here.

Please contact me to share any issues, concerns, or feedback you have to assist me in best representing you.  The best way to reach me is by email at [email protected] or by phone at 651-296-5612. My legislative assistant is Margaret Martin, and her number is 651-296-4264.  

Sincerely,

Steve Drazkowski

Minnesota Senate, District 20, Wabasha, Goodhue, Winona, Olmsted, and Dakota Counties.

2411 Minnesota Senate Building

95 University Avenue W.
Minnesota Senate Bldg.
St. Paul, MN 55155