Agreed. We're on top of the situation: http://t.co/jclZuO0hbf @timmiller_mn: Not good: http://t.co/rDGqQcLDah #mnleg #mngop #mnhrcc
— Minnesota Soybean (@MNSoyGrowers) January 17, 2015
Freshman Minnesota State Representative Tim Miller may think that free food for legislators is a good thing, but he tweeted today that Governor Dayton's proposal for beefing up buffer strips is "not good."
And the Minnesota Soybean Growers agree with the Prinsburg lawmaker, sharing his tweet along with their agreement (embedded above). The link leads to outdoor writer Sam Cook's article for the Duluth News Tribune and other Forum Communications papers.
However, Miller's dour opinion isn't shared by everyone in the House majority caucus. Pioneer Press outdoor reporter Dave Orrick writes in Dayton proposes 50-foot waterway buffers to help pheasant population:
[House Environment and Natural Resources Committee] Committee chairman Denny McNamara, R-Hastings, was more optimistic [than Dan Fabian (R-Roseau)].
"I'm psyched," McNamara said. "Uniformity is a great idea. Buffer strips are great for the environment, and 50 feet is better than 16 feet. Yes, there's going to be pushback, and we're going to have to work together."
Since McNamara owns over 600 acres near Graceville in Big Stone County, Upper Minnesota River Valley nationalists, conservationists and hunters enthusiastically greeted his statement on Facebook.
Orrick also follows up on his earlier reporting about Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner David Frederickson's remark at the Pheasant Summit in late 2014 that, if existing buffer strib laws aren't being enforced, perhaps they should be repealed. Conservationists, pollinator protectors, clean water advocates and pheasant hunters were dismayed by the approach.
The Pioneer Press reporter writes:
Later Friday, Fredrickson issued a statement saying he supports the governor's plan.
Fredrickson also sought to clarify his previous statements.
"I have never stated, nor do I believe, that abandoning buffer laws and rules would be good public policy for Minnesota," he said. "However, it is well known that our buffer laws are not being enforced. In the end, we all want compliance. I continue to believe that the best strategy is an incentive-based approach." . . .
Perhaps the genial ag commissioner can salt a few buffer strips in Renville County with free appetizers and a dessert bar for legislators, and Miller will see the conservation practice as a good thing.
Check out our earlier coverage in our post,The birds, bees & buffer coalition: will pheasants find friendly habitat in the 2015 session?
Photo: Rep. Tim Miller (R-Prinsburg), via Facebook.
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I'm trying to decide if Mr. Miller is a tool, a dishonest tool, or an utterly vacuous and dishonest tool. I believe the question requires further study.
Posted by: Phoenix Woman | Jan 18, 2015 at 12:52 AM