Dear Minnesota legislative leaders,

Minnesota is our home. Regardless of our background or where we live, we want to live in a state that protects our families, communities, wildlife, natural lands, and future generations. For too long, extractive companies have had undue influence on state agencies’ decisions – from permits and project oversight to enforcement. We expect these agencies to protect our environment and communities. All too often, agencies give companies too much leeway to exploit lands, jeopardize wildlife, and pollute our air and water. In response to the inevitable damage, state agencies issue weak fines.

Minnesotans expect better. Yet under the current system, impacted communities and public interest groups have less access to state decision makers than polluter interests. That needs to change. Many examples exist where state environmental regulators have refused to stand up to polluters and their short-term profits at the expense of long-term damage to our environment, public health, and future.

This phenomenon is known as Regulatory Capture, or Polluter Capture. Simply put, polluting industries have gained too much control over how they are regulated. When state officials refuse to enforce existing rules and laws, we all lose. Minnesotans need state agencies (MPCA, DNR, Department of Health, the Department of Agriculture, and others) to use existing laws to protect us from corporate polluters. Today, even when rules and laws are strong, agencies are failing to enforce them.

Governor Walz has failed to address the issue of Polluter Capture. The State Legislature has a critical oversight role of state agencies. It needs to step up to provide much-needed review, critique, and correction.

I am calling on the Minnesota Legislature to hold public hearings this summer and scrutinize corporate influence on state agencies’ actions. When Polluter Capture is brought into the light, the Legislature can propose solutions.

Thank you.