Good morning. For a lot of Minnesota, it was a dry January of a different kind. The weather kind.
Joe Fraser is starting off his U.S. Senate campaign by staking out positions that aim to avoid the extreme label that tripped out other Republicans. MPR’s Clay Masters was at Fraser’s first candidate event in Duluth. It lasted less than 20 minutes from start to finish, with no big-flair kickoff. Fraser spoke for about a minute and then took questions. Clay noted that Fraser said he personally opposes abortion, but said a woman should “have the opportunity to make a choice for herself.” On immigration, he said the borders need to be secure, but he also pointed to the positive contributions that newcomers to America can make, saying “this country was built on immigration.” He said President Joe Biden legitimately won and said the Capitol storming by former President Donald Trump’s supporters was “a discredit to the Constitution”’ and “unbecoming of a good democracy.”
A push to streamline permitting around renewable energy is gaining momentum. The Star Tribune’s Walker Orenstein reports on a task force report that provided dozens of new ways to speed up the regulatory process around renewable energy projects. One significant proposal would allow members of the Public Utilities Commission to approve a permit application rather than the commissioners, a move that could save applicants 60 days. Other proposals would include transferring environmental review for energy programs to the PUC, limit contested case hearings and eliminate certificate of need permits for wind and solar projects, as well as some transmission lines.
A school district in Western Minnesota is experiencing the benefits and the barriers of electric school buses. Our Dan Gunderson visited the Morris Area School District, one of the first schools to apply for an electric school bus grant program run by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The school currently has two electric buses used on daily routes. And while the district is saving money on fuel and the buses align with the community’s focus on clean energy, the program is not without its setbacks. The buses require additional driver training to operate and can’t be used on out of town trips for extra-curricular activities because of limited options in rural areas. There are currently 10 electric school buses operating around Minnesota.
The state rollout of an electric vehicle rebate has been pushed back a week. We were working off the Department of Commerce’s posted date when we said the new rebates for the lease and purchase of qualified EVs would start this week. Well, the agency wants a bit more time to get things lined up. The new go date is Feb. 7.
According to a draft of a bill obtained by the Minnesota Reformer, some Minnesota DFL lawmakers are ready to walk back some of the portions of the school resource officer law. The proposed bill would exempt cops and security guards from the ban on any school employee using any kind of hold that prevents a student from breathing or voicing distress. It will also require school officers to receive trainings starting in mid-2025. The proposed changes come after an intense lobbying campaign and many school districts pulled their officers from schools. The draft of the bill is already receiving opposition from both sides. The SRO issue will be the subject of a hearing on Day 1 of session.
We’re in a show-your-bank-balance week for political candidates. DFLer Kelly Morrison, who is running for the open seat in Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District, said she has raised more than $400,000 in the first seven weeks of her campaign. Morrison is a state senator and a practicing OB-GYN. Former Minneapolis city official Ron Harris is also running for the Democratic nomination in the district. Republicans Quentin Wittrock, Brad Kohler, Jamie Page and Blaize Harty are candidates on the GOP side but none had posted their fundraising as of Tuesday.
A Democratic challenger in the 8th Congressional District also released some financial information. Jen Schultz, who is running against Republican Rep. Pete Stauber, announced her campaign has raised a little over $300,000 in 2023. It’s noteworthy that she had accumulated most of that during the first nine months of the year ($225,000). No word yet on how much she had left to start the year.
With eyes on the majority, Minnesota House Republicans say they’re enjoying unprecedented fundraising. The caucus announced it had raised nearly $1.2 million in 2023 despite being in the minority. That’s less than the House DFL, which said it raised $2 million. But outside money is sure to rush in from national parties and interests that see opportunity for their side.
Are you ready for it? The "Name a Snowplow" contest winners are here. It was a bit ironic that the new names were unveiled on a comparatively balmy January day with no snow in a lot of places in Minnesota. There were 8,000 entries and 32,588 votes. One thing about Minnesotans — they love a pun. Names include Taylor Drift (Ellie’s personal favorite) and You’re Killin’ Me Squalls (Gov. Tim Walz’s favorite). Walz took a ride in Barbie’s Dream Plow, the plow that will operate in the metro district. While Ken’s job is “beach”, Walz said his job is “Minnesota.” | 