Tim Walz hasn't been in Washington long, but he's already taking heed of his constituents' opinions.
On Tuesday, Rep. Walz delivered comments of Minnesota 1st District residents regarding the proposed $2.3 billion federal loan to the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad. Walz noted that while the public comment period on the loan has officially closed, "it is never too late for citizens to comment on the work of their government."
Walz, in addressing the Department of Transportation, said he had received a total of 193 comments on the DM&E loan since this past Thursday. Of those, a substantial majority -- 172 -- opposed the proposed loan, while just 21 indicated their support.
In reading excerpts of the comments, Walz highlighted several legitimate reasons why many feel the DM&E loan is a bad idea. Among them: proximity of tracks to residential areas; a feared negative effect on Rochester's Mayo Clinic; a poor DM&E safety record; and a high risk for taxpayers.
One comment Walz read was from a Mankato resident, who wrote: "I would rather use the $2.3 billion in the form of grants to universities to use for research in alternative clean energy sources." This point -- the DM&E loan money could be better used elsewhere -- seems well taken not just from an alternative energy standpoint, but from the perspective that $2.3 billion could be put to use in a multitude of different areas. The loan, if approved, would be the largest ever to an American private corporation -- one with revenues of only $200 million.
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We are grateful for Walz to making sure concerns from his district are brought to those who matter.
