Political Fight Poses Threat to Environmental Funding in MN publicnewsservice.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from publicnewsservice.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Senate Republicans threaten to cut state parks funding over clean cars rule GOP bill cuts funding unless rules reducing emissions are stopped.
By Jennifer Bjorhus, Greg Stanley and Briana Bierschbach, Star Tribune May 4, 2021 5:39pm Text size Copy shortlink:
Minnesota s state parks could shut down in July if the Walz administration does not bow to demands by Senate Republicans to drop plans for new clean cars emissions standards.
Along with parks, much of the environmental arm of state government would shut down over the impasse, which flared up during a conference committee meeting Tuesday on the Senate s proposed omnibus environment budget.
Created: April 07, 2021 06:04 PM
The Minnesota House DFL majority is trying to pass the biggest transportation funding bill since 2008, the last time the legislature approved a gas tax increase.
The 2008 bill created $7 billion in new funding for transportation. The 2021 bill would raise about $1.5 billion over four years.
Republicans were upset the bill and tax increases were introduced so late in the session without public hearings. It s unconscionable, said Rep. Paul Torkelson, R-Hanska, during a virtual hearing of the House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee. This is not the way the legislature is supposed to work. We re supposed to bring these bills forward to committee, analyze them, take testimony.
Vehicle emissions rule draws GOP pushback
Minn. Republican lawmakers look to strip pollution control agency of the power to set new vehicle emissions standards, and block Gov. Walz s Clean Cars initiative. Author: John Croman Updated: 1:59 AM CST March 11, 2021
ST PAUL, Minn. The Walz administration s move to bring more electric vehicles into Minnesota is facing pushback from Republicans at the State Capitol. Simply put, they want the legislature to take charge of setting vehicle emissions standards in Minnesota.
GOP Senator Andrew Mathews of Princeton has a bill that would strip the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, or MPCA, of the power to set vehicle emissions standards.
As more automakers go electric, here s where Minnesota stands
The state still has a long way to go before EVs go mainstream, but options are increasing and prices are beginning to drop. Author: Kent Erdahl Updated: 2:48 PM CST March 6, 2021
MINNEAPOLIS Electric vehicles may run quiet, but more and more manufacturers are making noise as they aggressively expand their EV offerings.
General Motors recently announced that it plans to sell only electric vehicles by 2035, and this week, Volvo vowed to do the same by 2030. Meanwhile, nearly every major automaker is announcing plans to offer several new EVs in the near future.