House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) has called out Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz for his recent order blocking copper-nickel mining near the Boundary Waters. Emmer argues that this decision will only benefit foreign adversaries like China and lead to the destruction of union jobs in the state’s northern Iron Range. In an interview with Breitbart News Saturday, Emmer accused Walz of acting out of spite as he prepares to leave office, claiming that the governor’s order will push mineral production to countries with worse environmental records than the United States.
Emmer emphasized that ending mining in the US will only shift the industry to places like China and Russia, where environmental regulations are lax. He dismissed Walz’s environmental justifications for the order, stating that everyone values clean water and air, but that the real issue lies in the economic impact of shutting down a major mining deposit rich in precious metals like copper, nickel, and palladium.
The congressman criticized the order for jeopardizing hundreds, if not thousands, of well-paying union jobs and cutting off revenue to Minnesota’s public school trust lands. He also called out Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, accusing them of neglecting the working class in favor of urban interests.
Emmer condemned the order as an attack on Northern Minnesota and its way of life, urging readers to take action against what he sees as a harmful and misguided policy. The call to action is clear: stand up against decisions that prioritize political agendas over the well-being of American workers and communities.