Dear Friends and Neighbors, Happy Independence Day! I hope that you are able to take a few days to reflect on the challenges facing our country and our state but also the great gifts we've been given by our Creator and our forebearers who "pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor" so that we could live in freedom. I am celebrating the recent decisions by the US Supreme Court. Although the Presidential Immunity case has taken a lot of media attention, the overturning of the "Chevron" case will probably be the most significant from a policy perspective. It rolls back the administrative state's ability to interpret and administer the law on its own, a power reserved for Congress and the courts. The challenge to Chevron was brought by some small East Coast herring fishermen who argued that a rule imposed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration required them to accept and pay for observers on their vessels, costing them $700 per day! This rule was the agency's interpretation of a law, not a law passed by Congress. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of these businesses that the rule was an overreach by the administrative state. There are many examples of this behavior by the executive branch, federally and in Minnesota. Hopefully, this ruling will help push back against these abuses. | The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is proposing changes to feedlot permits. They are doing this in response to the high nitrates in groundwater issue, which was promoted by environmental groups' complaint to the EPA which led to some surprise inspections of farms in our district several months ago. The inspections themselves did not give the agency any reason for concern, but MPCA and the Department of Health are continuing to push forward on new regulatory initiatives anyway. The new rulemaking has triggered a 45-day public comment period (June 24 to August 9). In addition to the ability to comment online, there will be two public meetings in Southern Minnesota. They are: Monday, July 22, 2024, 6 - 8 p.m. Fairmont Knights of Columbus 920 E 10th St Fairmont, MN 56031 Wednesday, July 24, 2024, 6 - 8 p.m. Chatfield Center for the Arts 405 Main St Chatfield, MN 55923 It’s important that the MPCA hear from farmers since they will be directly affected by any new regulations. | One of the issues I hear about most often is how difficult it is to own and run a business in Minnesota under the Walz administration, especially for small businesses. I can think of no better example than childcare providers, especially in-home daycare providers. Year after year, the Department of Human Services and county human services have burdened these providers with more elaborate rules, mandatory programs, and aggressive inspections. Providers are leaving the business, and the number of providers is sharply declining, leading to a shortage and increased costs for families. None of these changes will enhance child safety or taxpayer accountability. The CCAP (Childcare Assistance Program) fraud occurred under their watch. Meanwhile, the Walz and Biden Administrations are advocating for the creation of larger childcare centers, a move that could potentially foster a more institutionalized environment, which is not ideal for very young children. Right now, DHS is considering completely new licensing standards for daycare providers. They are calling this “regulation modernization,” and they plan to introduce the changes in the 2025 legislative session. The DHS website describing the stages of the project is here. The survey to provide feedback on the proposed rules is here. The Center of the American Experiment dedicated a recent podcast to this topic with their economist, Martha Njolomole, who has also written a helpful post. She breaks down the incredible government driven effort to micromanage these businesses out of existence. If you are a parent, a provider, or know someone in this field, you need to get involved in this issue before independent childcare providers and parental choice in the care and education of their little ones is a thing of the past. | Congratulations Farm Families of the Year! | The Farm Family Recognition Program at the University of Minnesota has honored Minnesota farmers since 1979. Families are chosen for their significant contributions to the agriculture industry and their local communities. It is coordinated by University of Minnesota Extension, the College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences, and the College of Veterinary Medicine. Farm Families are recognized at Farmfest in August. Two families were selected in Senate District 20 this year: In Goodhue County, Tony and Maizie Scheffler and Family who farm at the Scheffler Dairy Farm (Zumbrota area) and in Wabasha County, the John and Kris Miller Family at JM Dairy (Plainview area). Congratulations! | I don't intend on sending you many emails in the interim months (yes, we still have a part time legislature in Minnesota!) but please do 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. She will be happy to assist you, in or out of session. | 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 | |
