Emmer Introduces Legislation to Reclaim Local Control
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Tom Emmer (MN-06) introduced new legislation to reclaim local control by revoking a grandfathering clause that has allowed the Metropolitan (Met) Council to operate as the only Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) in the nation composed entirely of gubernatorial appointees without any local elected officials. Minnesota’s Met Council consists of Governor Walz’s appointees who routinely prioritize wasteful transit projects and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives over Minnesota’s actual infrastructure needs. The Reclaim Local Control Act will restore local control over Minnesota’s infrastructure dollars. Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08), Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach (MN-07), and Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) are original cosponsors of Emmer’s bill.
“Walz’s hand-picked board of radical extremists puts ‘green’ scams and DEI transit projects ahead of the roads and bridges that Minnesotans actually need,” said Congressman Emmer. “Our constituents in Carver and Anoka counties are being left behind while the rest of the metro gets funding galore for DEI nonsense. It’s time to reclaim local control and end Big Government overreach.”
Background
The Met Council is a policy-making board of 17 members appointed by the governor. The Council oversees the planning of communities, housing, parks, transportation, wastewater, and water in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. Their work covers 181 cities and townships and seven counties, including Carver and Anoka counties, which are a part of the Sixth Congressional District.
In 1991, MPOs were designated to be composed of local elected officials. However, a grandfathering clause that was included allowed the Met Council to continue to be made up of only gubernatorial appointees. The Governor’s sole authority to appoint board members to the Met Council has led to partisan priorities being addressed over Minnesota’s actual infrastructure needs, to the detriment of areas that do not meet its arbitrary DEI standards.
Congressman Emmer and the rest of Minnesota’s Republican Congressional delegation have led the charge to oppose funding for wasteful transit projects by sending letters to the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) in 2025 and 2026.
In April, Congressman Emmer sent a letter to the Met Council to express his opposition to the Council’s proposal to use Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in awarding transportation funding in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, including Carver and Anoka counties.
###