Local View: Rep. McCollum dividing northern Minnesota, threatening job creation

Once again, a Twin Cities politician wants to call the shots for Greater Minnesota, this time by halting economic recovery and job growth in northern communities already ravaged as a result of COVID-19.

Congresswoman Betty McCollum of St. Paul buried language in the 176-page Fiscal Year 2021 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Spending Bill — that she “proudly authored,” as she said on the House floor — to halt any federal reviews of mine plans in the Rainy River Watershed in the Superior National Forest (“Bill would halt federal review of mine plans in Superior National Forest,” July 19).

McCollum also stated on the House floor that she “crafted this language for one purpose:” to stop the proposed Twin Metals copper-nickel mine. There are at least three things seriously problematic about that.

Written for the Duluth News Tribune by Nancy Norr, Chair of the board of Jobs for Minnesotans (jobsforminnesotans.org); Steve Giorgi, Executive Director of the Range Association of Municipalities and Schools, or RAMS (ramsmn.org); and Mike Syversrud, President of the Iron Range Building and Construction Trades Council. 

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