MPCA Commissioner Resigns As Senate GOP Takes Steps Toward Firing Walz Cabinet Members
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO/AP) — The Republican-controlled Minnesota Senate opened a fight Tuesday that could lead to the firing of one or more of Democratic Gov. Tim Walz's Cabinet members.
Meanwhile, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Commissioner Laura Bishop has already announced her resignation.
Senate Republican leaders extended the special session last week after they finished a $52 billion, two-year budget, a move that lets them wield their chamber's authority to conform or reject the governor's appointments after a contentious several months of budget and policy battles. GOP Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka indicated that the special session would continue at least through Wednesday, when the key votes are expected.
Senate committees set hearings for Tuesday afternoon for Sarah Strommen, commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources, and Jennifer Ho, commissioner of the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency.
Republicans have been critical of the how the MPCA under Bishop has bypassed the Legislature in rulemaking for the Walz administration's "clean car" plan, which aims to encourage drivers to switch to electric vehicles, a proposal the state's auto dealers consider burdensome. But they were unable to scrap the proposal during budget negotiations.
"It has been an honor to serve Minnesotans in this role. However, I will not allow the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to be politicized. The work is too important," said Bishop. "I look forward to continued work to protect our state's waters, air, land, and climate for future generations of Minnesotans."
Democrats tried to force a final adjournment Tuesday to block the confirmation votes and protect the appointees' jobs, but lost 31-35 after losing a similar move last Friday. Senate Minority Leader Susan Kent, of Woodbury, accused Republicans of an "abuse of this process" for keeping the special session going after finishing the budget instead of acting on the governor's appointments before the regular session ended in mid-May.
And Sen. Melisa Franzen, of Edina, accused Republicans of planning "political theater to demonize some, to say that 'We didn't get what we wanted in the budget negotiations so now you're out of a job.'"
The Senate then confirmed two noncontroversial appointments on voice votes — Mark Phillips, commissioner of the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board, and Aaron Vande Linde, director of the Office of School Trust Lands. Both men got friendly receptions at committee hearings earlier Tuesday. So did Dean Compart, president of the Board of Animal Health, though the full Senate didn't vote on his nomination Tuesday.
The Senate removed two Walz commissioners during special sessions last summer — Commerce Commissioner Steve Kelley and Labor and Industry Commissioner Peggy Leppink — in disputes, respectively, over Enbridge Energy's Line 3 oil pipeline and how the Walz administration was managing the state's pandemic response. Senate GOP leaders have chosen not to act on most of Walz's cabinet nominations in order to retain their leverage.
Walz issued a statement last Friday saying Senate Republicans should have acted back when he first appointed his commissioners as he took office in 2019, and that they should not claim pay for extending the special session.
(© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)