hearing that shuts out the voices of these rural Minnesotans while giving time to industry lobbyists is undemocratic and unfair.

Hi folks,

 

Rochester Post-Bulletin reporter Heather Carlson wrote a good blog post on tomorrow's events. It's here: http://postbulletin.typepad.com/political_party/2015/01/frac-sand-mining-opponents-want-house-hearing-cancelled.html

 

If you're so inclined, please considering leaving your own thoughts in the comments on the post, and/or sharing the post on social media. Heather told me she also plans to be there to cover the hearing tomorrow.

 

Johanna

 

Johanna Rupprecht

Policy Organizer

Land Stewardship Project

 

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From: Johanna Rupprecht <jrupprecht@landstewardshipproject.org>
Date: Friday, January 23, 2015 6:27 PM
To: "rep.tom.hackbarth@house.mn" <rep.tom.hackbarth@house.mn>
Cc: "rep.kurt.daudt@house.mn" <rep.kurt.daudt@house.mn>, "rep.dale.lueck@house.mn" <rep.dale.lueck@house.mn>, "rep.david.dill@house.mn" <rep.david.dill@house.mn>, "rep.mark.anderson@house.mn" <rep.mark.anderson@house.mn>, "rep.tom.anzelc@house.mn" <rep.tom.anzelc@house.mn>, "rep.jack.considine@house.mn" <rep.jack.considine@house.mn>, "rep.tony.cornish@house.mn" <rep.tony.cornish@house.mn>, "rep.jerry.hertaus@house.mn" <rep.jerry.hertaus@house.mn>, "rep.brian.johnson@house.mn" <rep.brian.johnson@house.mn>, "rep.deb.kiel@house.mn" <rep.deb.kiel@house.mn>, "rep.eric.lucero@house.mn" <rep.eric.lucero@house.mn>, "rep.denny.mcnamara@house.mn" <rep.denny.mcnamara@house.mn>, "rep.carly.melin@house.mn" <rep.carly.melin@house.mn>, "rep.jason.metsa@house.mn" <rep.jason.metsa@house.mn>, "rep.barb.yarusso@house.mn" <rep.barb.yarusso@house.mn>, "stephanie.lamphere@house.mn" <stephanie.lamphere@house.mn>, Bobby King <bking@landstewardshipproject.org>
Subject: January 27 Mining and Outdoor Recreation Policy Committee Hearing

 

Representative Hackbarth, Chair

Mining and Outdoor Recreation Policy Committee

100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155

 

January 23, 2015

 

Dear Representative Hackbarth:

 

The Mining and Outdoor Recreation Policy Committee has an informational hearing on the frac sand industry scheduled for Tuesday, January 27. It is clear from the meeting announcement that representatives of the frac sand industry will be given ample time to testify while no time at all is scheduled for citizens. Rural Minnesotans throughout southeast Minnesota and the Minnesota River Valley have made it clear that they are deeply concerned about this issue and want their voices heard.A hearing that shuts out the voices of these rural Minnesotans while giving time to industry lobbyists is undemocratic and unfair.

 

Therefore, we request that Tuesday’s hearing be re-scheduled for a future date, at which time the speaking time provided to citizens will be at least equal to that provided to corporate interests. If the January 27 hearing does take place, we request you hold a second hearing devoted to citizen testimony with sufficient advance notice for rural Minnesotans to participate.

 

Sincerely,

 

Johanna Rupprecht

Policy Organizer

Land Stewardship Project

Lewiston, MN

507-523-3366

 

Margaret Walsh

LSP Member

Winona, MN

 

Bonita Underbakke

LSP Member

Lanesboro, MN

 

Marilyn Frauenkron Bayer

LSP Member

Houston, MN

 

cc: Rep. Kurt Daudt, Speaker of the House; Members of the Mining and Outdoor Recreation Policy Committee