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It is time for the people of this state to help their friends in the Southeast as we have in the past for other regions hit severely by the wrath of Mother Nature.
In addition to no-interest loans, Minnesota’s Legislature should act now to pass legislation that puts emergency construction cash vouchers in the hands of flood-affected families and businesses.
Minnesota’s elected representatives must act and must act soon to help restore faith, honor and dignity within our flood-ravaged rural areas.
I can tell you now that low interest loans, as suggested by Rep. Steve Drazkowski, are not enough! In some communities affected by the recent epic floods, Rushford, Elba, Stockton and Hokah, entire business districts are completely and utterly destroyed. The destruction does not stop there. These communities lost entire neighborhoods to the flooding similar to the losses incurred by Minnesota City and Goodview in our district.
A Minnesota Legislature special session should address three issues: Replacement of the Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis; flood recovery and reconstruction in southeast Minnesota; and finally, the easiest part of this equation, is to stop selfish, infrastructure disabling “no tax” policies that are causing our roads and bridges to fall apart before our eyes, resulting in even more death and destruction. By supporting and passing a 10-cent per gallon gas tax, every Minnesotan who drives can help rebuild our roads, bridge and transportation infrastructure so they are once again safe for the public.
As representatives of the people of Minnesota, you have a chance to lead at critical time in our state’s history. You wanted a chance to lead, now is the time to do it. Join Southeast Minnesota’s elected officials in sponsoring legislation that brings flood recovery to our region, and safe roads to the entire state.
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