The commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Laura Bishop, resigned Tuesday and the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) called her resignation the result of a “temper tantrum.” Bishop resigned ahead of a vote that would have more than likely fired her. Bishop said in her resignation letter that, “For many, the agency can never go far enough in our protections, while at the same time, a segment of the Republican caucus will always believe the agency goes too far.”
The Minnesota GOP was set to vote her out just after she released her letter. Republican lawmakers have disagreed with Bishop’s push to enact vehicle emissions standards after she took steps to pursue implementing California emissions standards in Minnesota and her positions on other environmental issues. According to Minnesota Public Radio, Republicans also were unhappy with Bishop for circumventing the legislature when it came to some policy decisions. “They’ve accused Bishop and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency of circumventing the state legislature and taking important policy decisions away from the legislative branch.”
Calling it “partisan games,” Governor Tim Walz said in a statement that, “For all Minnesotans who believe in science, who believe in climate change, this is a loss.”
In an official statement regarding Bishop’s resignation, the MN DFL said, “Let us be clear about what happened today: Senate Republicans forced the resignation of the Commissioner of our Pollution Control Agency in order to defend big polluters, exact revenge on Governor Walz for his strong leadership during a once-in-a-generation public health crisis, and harm our ability to be responsible stewards of our environment.”
The statement went on to say that “Senator Paul Gazelka’s pathetic temper tantrum just goes to show that Republicans will not let divided government work for the people of Minnesota.”
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Hayley Tschetter is a reporter with The Minnesota Sun | Star News Network and The College Fix. She graduated with a degree in Communications from the University of Northwestern-St. Paul. Send news tips to [email protected].
