Don Arnosti, a longtime environmental advocate in Minnesota and former executive director of the Izaak Walton League’s Minnesota division, said Klobuchar and Smith’s support for the PolyMet land exchange makes it “extremely clear” they want the mine to be built.
“Regardless of what they say, their actions speak louder than their words,” Arnosti said.
Margaret Levin, state director of the Sierra Club’s North Star branch, also said Klobuchar’s work on the land exchange proves she supports PolyMet. Levin said she appreciates that Klobuchar hasn’t outright endorsed Twin Metals, leaving her open to oppose it after more environmental study, but said the emails published in the recent WSJ story showed an effort to advance the project.
“To date, on the issue of sulfide mining, I do not think that she’s acted in the best interest of protecting our water,” Levin said.
Richard Painter, who challenged Sen. Tina Smith in the DFL primary last year with an anti-mining platform, argued Klobuchar has intentionally been unclear on Twin Metals so she can walk a political middle ground. Painter, a law professor at the University of Minnesota who was the top ethics lawyer for the George W. Bush administration, said there isn’t a position in the center.
“Amy Klobuchar has been playing games here,” Painter said. “She’s showing for the mining companies to keep the votes up there, but trying to avoid getting too much flak from the environmentalists. And I just don’t think that’s a very honest approach. Just take a stance.”
He added: “I strongly disagree with the Republicans in the state that are for [Twin Metals], but at least they’re being honest. Come heck or high water, I think it’s a terrible risk to take. The doublespeak from the Democrats will land you in the same place, but it’s worse, because it’s just deceptive.”
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Does this impress you with the Klobuchar - Smith Senate pairing; per their paired environmental consciousness? Yes, Stauber is more direct a pro-mining puppet but who can you trust to honor the earth, the waters, the land itself? There's largely a vacuum among top Minnesota politicians where a conscience would help. Republicans Emmer and Stauber whoring about the jobs, directly, Klobuchar in straddle position looking really bad. What does she expect with this presidential bit player part? Where's her payoff? How soon will she be dropping out; and would that be with or without first taking a firm publicly articulated policy position on Twin Metals, never mind further advanced PolyMet adventureing.