To the Editor,
A recent article in the Star Tribune
reported that a group of politicians from northeastern Minnesota
visited Gov. Dayton’s office, telling him the sulfide mining
companies worry about being able to comply with Minnesota’s water
quality standards and that the mining companies needed them weakened.
This was the moment when Mark Dayton
could have chased every sulfide mining corporation out of the state
by uttering one sentence: “I am proud to uphold the water quality
standards protecting Minnesota’s wild rice beds.” But that didn’t
happen.
Instead we who strive to protect
Minnesota’s natural resources are left questioning whether Mark
Dayton lacks the will and the courage to protect them.
If it had been Gov. Jerry Brown
visiting Mark Dayton, the conversation would have gone quite
differently: years ago California poked Minnesota about water
pipelines but was wisely refused.
Leaving decent governance on this
vital issue to the people of Minnesota is not why many of us voted
for Mark Dayton. We do so miss and suffer the loss of our dear Gov.
Rudy Perpich. That is who we needed in the governor’s chair that day
in February 2014.
Constance Bonniwell
