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| Date: | January 28, 2011 | | Contact Name: | Chris Van Guilder | | Contact Phone: | 651-296-1388 | | Contact Email: | christopher.vanguilder@senate.mn | | For Immediate Release | |
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| SENATOR CARLSON AND SENATE LEGISLATORS HOST JOINT COMMITTEE HEARING IN HIBBING |
Hibbing---Senator John Carlson (R-Bemidji) attended a joint committee hearing in Hibbing to discuss regional economic growth opportunities. Co-chairs Senator Geoff Michel (R-Edina), Chair of the Jobs and Economic Growth Committee, and Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen (R-Alexandria), Chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee, led the meeting.
Mayors from Hibbing and Hoyt Lakes, area city council members, Hibbing and Grand Rapids chamber members and industry leaders from the region offered testimony during the two hour meeting. The discussion focused on improving the business climate, permitting and regulatory concerns, and issues specific to the mining and forestry industries.
“Greater Minnesota is home to our state’s largest and most productive industries. It is imperative that we do everything we can to encourage growth and sustainable employment in these areas,” commented Senator Michel.
Senator John Carlson, a member of the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee, added, “As a legislator representing people in northern Minnesota, I am excited to take our hearing to the region. There is a great opportunity for economic development in this area, and we need to get to work right away in an environmentally responsible manner. Our efforts will start with reforming the permitting and regulatory processes, and expand to improving the overall business climate as we seek to put more Minnesotans back to work.”
Heidi Omerza, Ely City Council member and President of the Ely Area Economic Development Authority, thanked the committees during her testimony, “Thank you for coming up to northern Minnesota to listen and really learn why it is so important that you create a better environment for job creation in this state.”
Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch (R-Buffalo) and other members of the Senate Republican Caucus also attended the joint committee hearing. Committee members toured the Hibbing Taconite mining facility Friday morning before the hearing.
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