Yesterday, the Duluth News Tribune wrote about the reaction of some local leaders to the news that Iron Range-based Magnetation might locate its proposed taconite plant in Superior instead of near its scram mining operations in Itasca County. Give it a read. Notably, Rep. Tom Rukavina appears to be in open revolt.
Yeah, after reading this I’d say there’s a good chance Magnetation ends up in Superior. That is, unless the Iron Range has a good “fixer” to patch up the anger situation. My understanding is meetings with Minnesota regulators are underway to determine the problems Magnetation is having getting the necessary permits. Any hope the Range has in getting this project back must be seized in the next week or two.
It seems a bit ironic as Rukavina, at least to the extent of my knowledge, has been one of the people responsible for the regulative system that is now driving jobs out of Minnesota. If only we had our own Scott Walker…
Mr. Lehtinen is a shrewd guy and it’s only logical to play the field. Rep. Rukavina’s response strikes me as childish. It would be fantastic for me personally if this plant’s built in my home city, where their Jessie Loadout facility is now. But the region still benefits if the plant happens in Superior. I think the relative ease of loading/shipping/unloading pellets, rather than concentrate will keep the plant in one of these two locations.
Editorial: Ouch. Minnesota takes a licking on tax climate
Pioneer Press
02/07/2012 6:19:16 PM
Ouch. The nonpartisan Tax Foundation has issued its State Business Tax Climate Index for 2012, and Minnesota did not perform well.
With a business tax climate that looks “frosty” by comparison with those ranked at the top, Minnesota – No. 45 for the second year in a row – leads only Rhode Island, Vermont, California, New York and New Jersey at the bottom of the list. “The states in the bottom 10 suffer from the same afflictions: complex, non-neutral taxes with comparatively high rates,” the report says.