PolyMet CEO frustrated with permit delays; MN-02 DFL candidate forum

Posted at 7:30 AM on April 25, 2012 by Michael Olson
Filed under: Around MN

PolyMet CEO frustrated with permit delays
WDIO: "Phase 1 of PolyMet is $350 million dollars. CEO Joe Scipioni said that's like an investment of almost $1 million dollars a day, for a year. 'That's what our region is missing out on, while we wait for permits.'" Greg Seitz with Friends of the Boundary Waters responded to the WDIO report, "PolyMet's permits have been delayed because of the inadequate draft Environmental Impact Statement for the mine proposal that was put out in 2009. The Environmental Protection Agency gave the review the lowest grade possible. The mine would have caused violations of Minnesota water quality standards for 2,000 years, and the company did not provide any information to assure Minnesota taxpayers that we won't get stuck with a multi-million dollar clean-up bill."

Join an online candidate forum today at noon with the candidates seeking the 2nd Congressional District DFL nomination.

Members of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party will gather Saturday in Rosemount to endorse a challenger to Republican Incumbent Rep. John Kline.

Dems think Rep. Kline is weaker in new 2nd District

MPR News: Minnesota's redrawn 2nd Congressional District has a trio of Democrats weighing a challenge to incumbent U.S. Rep. John Kline, a Republican who could be more vulnerable than he has been in past elections.

Dakota County Commissioner Kathleen Gaylord, former DFL state Rep. Mike Obermueller of Eagan, Minn., and Northfield City Council member Patrick Ganey have announced that they will challenge Kline, who has represented the sprawling district south of the Twin Cities for 10 years.

In the recent round of redistricting, the 2nd District lost conservative ground in Carver and Le Sueur Counties to the south. It gained solid Democratic turf to the north, picking up parts of South St. Paul and West St. Paul.

Kline declined to comment. But the changed district lines have the three Democrats optimistic about their chances.

Vote analysis: Rep. John Kline voting record "far-right"

GovTrack: "Kline is a far-right Republican according to GovTrack's own analysis of bill sponsorship. Use this chart to compare Kline to other members of the House of Representatives on leadership and ideology."

"We must continue to fight Washington's big government tax-and-spend approach that is burdening our children and grandchildren with insurmountable debt. And I will continue to fight for you on the front lines of these important battles to repeal ObamaCare, eliminate the over-regulations that are smothering America's businesses, and stop the Big Labor movement that is leading to unprecedented abuses of power," -- Rep. John Kline, speaking to Republican delegates (MinnPost).

Also on Minnesota Today
Vikings stadium plan takes on an 'air of inevitability'
Star Tribune: "Measure passed one Senate panel and was headed to another, paving the way for a possible final vote soon."

GOP debating whether to call back delegates in congressional contest
Post Bulletin: "Republican officials want resolution in choosing a candidate to back for the 1st District Congressional seat held by Democratic Rep. Tim Walz. Mower County Republicans Chairman Dennis Schminke said a primary fight would be bad for the party's efforts to defeat Walz."

Rep. Kline fights Obama's bid to cap student loan interest
Star Tribune: "U.S. Rep. John Kline, who heads the House Committee on Education and the Workforce and is the House's point man on education issues, is among the Republicans in Congress reluctant to extend the current rates, a move that would cost about $6 billion per year in additional subsidies."

Red Cliff band to help recover 70 barrels from Lake Superior
Duluth News Tribune: "A report released by Red Cliff in 2006 indicated that pollutants might be in the barrels. Citing Army Corps and Honeywell Munitions records, the Red Cliff report said chemicals ranging from PCBs to mercury, lead or even uranium could be in the barrels."

Dayton under fire for vetoing E-Verify requirement
MPR News: "Republican lawmakers are criticizing Gov. Mark Dayton's veto of an immigration enforcement bill. The bill would have required the state to run names of new state employees through a federal database called E-Verify to check their work authorization in the United States."

Duluth School Board to request levy
Duluth News Tribune: "The Duluth School Board will move ahead with plans to ask taxpayers for more money for classroom operations next fall."

Attorney general: Investigation of Fairview debt collector shows illegal use of patient data
MPR News: "The state attorney general's office's released the results of an investigation into Fairview Health Services' relationship with a debt collection company accused of violating federal and state patient privacy and debt collection laws."

Senate turns back effort to ban payments to 'pray the gay away' therapy
Hot Dish Politics: "On a bipartisan 27-40 vote, the Senate Tuesday turned back a move to ban government reimbursement for reparative or conversion therapy to 'pray the gay away.'"

Minnesota Senate sends fireworks bill to governor
Hot Dish Politics: "Gov. Mark Dayton will soon decide whether Minnesotans can purchase and use more powerful fireworks."

Sen. Dave Thompson Discusses Frustrating Session: MyFoxTWINCITIES.com