Angie Craig sides with Keith Ellison, Mark Dayton and the Met Council against Lewis’ Reform Agenda
Apr 27, 2018Eagan, MN - Once again failed congressional candidate Angie Craig sided with radical Keith Ellison and Governor Mark Dayton in opposition to sensible government reform for Minnesotans. Ellison was the only member of Minnesota’s delegation to vote against the FAA Authorization Bill which included Congressman Jason Lewis’ amendment bringing much-needed accountability to the 7-county Metropolitan Council.
“For decades, federal, state and local politicians in Minnesota have bemoaned the concentration of power in the metro area’s unelected Met Council. Now, however, we’re doing something about it.
“What started as an advisory committee in the early ‘70s, has morphed into a powerful governing force that now controls development, transit, and even housing throughout the Twin Cities. Unfortunately, it remains the only unelected MPO in the country and the only regional authority that can independently increase taxes. This unaccountability has allowed it to implement policies at odds with those it represents – but thankfully, things are about to change.
“Indeed, when your regional authority’s annual operating expenditures are the largest in the country - larger than Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, LA, Phoenix, Seattle, Washington DC, San Francisco, Boston, Denver, Chicago, Detroit, Tampa, and Miami combined - there is a need for fiscal accountability.
“The Met Council has strongly promoted a controversial ‘high-density’ development strategy (sometimes referred to as ‘new urbanism’ or so-called ‘smart growth’) and in the process has run roughshod over the wishes of local communities and their residents. It has promoted expensive light rail projects, such as SWLRT, at the expense of necessary road building and cost-effective transit investment in the metro area. And it has fought repeated attempts at reasonable reform which merely seeks to put the body in line with almost every other MPO in the country.
“My amendment, which passed unanimously, would at long last bring about much-needed change. The Met Council – which is currently gubernatorially appointed—would finally have to add elected and local representation to their governing body in compliance with long-standing federal law and Congressional intent.
“Unfortunately, there are still plenty out there who want to continue their unaccountable power grab. Yesterday, the Met Council along with Governor Dayton issued statements clearly stating they would rather continue the current status quo than work towards real reform that Minnesotans have been demanding for decades.
“But Dayton, Ellison and of course, Angie Craig once again sided with the special interests blocking everyday Minnesotans from finally gaining a voice in their own communities about our transportation needs.
“It is time to restore self-government and give metro residents power over their regional government.”