Groups target Klobuchar on issues of clean water, trade agreements

WASHINGTON — Separate groups supporting the environment and unions targeted Sen. Amy Klobuchar this week for stances — or lack thereof — on key issues coming to votes in the coming weeks.

The National Resources Defense Council railed against Klobuchar's vote to limit bodies of water the EPA can protect. On another issue, groups that oppose "fast track" legislation rallied outside her Minneapolis office, pushing the senator to expedite trade agreement approval instead of sitting indecisively.

On the trade issue, union leaders were annoyed that Klobuchar hasn't taken a stance on trade promotion authority, which gives President Obama permission to enact a 12-nation free trade deal without Congressional changes. The Trans-Pacific Partnership would be the largest trade agreement since the North American Free Trade Agreement under the Clinton administration, and it's an issue that has agreement from the Republican leaders in the House of Representatives and President Barack Obama.

About 125 people, including representatives from Education Minnesota, SEIU Healthcare and the Teamsters and other groups, rallied for an hour outside Klobuchar's Minneapolis office, calling for her to come to a decision on an agreement that would affect them all, said Mona Meyer, president of the Communications Workers of America Minnesota State Council.

Sen. Al Franken has come out in opposition to the fast-track legislation.

A Klobuchar spokeswoman said her office is waiting and pushing for the strongest bill for American workers.

"For the last month, she has been pushing for strong provisions to stop the illegal dumping of foreign steel that has had a major impact on workers on the Iron Range," said Klobuchar spokeswoman Julia Krahe. "Some of these provisions are included in one of the four bills that passed through the Senate Finance Committee, but it is not clear at all whether these changes, as well as proposals dealing with foreign currency and other measures to help workers, will be included in the final bill."

The NRDC is hoping Klobuchar changes her mind from her vote for a non-binding amendment to the Senate Budget Resolution in March. The amendment mandated that the EPA not regulate small streams and wetlands — but could also leave them with a greater chance of being polluted. Klobuchar was one of five Democrats to support the amendment.

Historically, Klobuchar has been supportive of clean water issues, said Karen Hobbs, senior policy analyst with NRDC, so the group wants constituents to urge the senator to support the Clean Water Rule, the EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' proposal to help protect streams and wetlands. The rule will be finalized later this spring, EPA administrator Gina McCarthy and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy said in a blog post on epa.gov.

"We hope that Sen. Klobuchar will be a strong supporter of clean water going forward," Hobbs said.