On a visit to Rep. Jim Newberger this last legislative session, other educators and I were informed by the esteemed representative that there just wasn’t time enough in his day to think about issues like education or schools in his district or really any other issues.
No, Mr. Newberger was far too busy worrying about the Sherco Plant. His paraphrased words were that he wake up every day thinking about Sherco and goes to bed every night thinking about Sherco.
A glance at his most recent campaign spending shows he wasn’t lying. Most expenditures were for travel and lodging far away from his district to learn about other power plants. It’s unclear how travelling to Kentucky for an “energy fact trip” will save Sherco but it’s clear that the representative is working hard for them.
Don’t get me wrong, Sherco is an important economic part of this area and of Minnesota and I congratulate them on electing a really dedicated lobbyist, sorry, member of the MN House of Representatives.
As for all the other important economic parts of House District 15B, I hope we can one day elect our own member of the Minnesota House. Perhaps one who can multi-task.
Eric Austin,
Becker, MN.
