REGIONAL— Eighth District Congressman Pete Stauber found relatively little support in the U.S. House for his controversial effort to derail the nomination of the first Native American member of a presidential Cabinet.
The Republican Stauber had hoped to convince the Biden administration to withdraw the nomination of New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland, a Democrat, as Secretary of the Interior. But Stauber couldn’t even convince other GOP members of the Minnesota congressional delegation to sign on to a letter he issued this week opposing Haaland’s nomination.
Stauber has come under fierce criticism from tribal officials across the country, and particularly those within the Eighth District of Minnesota.
In a joint, Jan. 14 letter, leaders of the five Ojibwe bands within Stauber’s home district expressed their “profound disappointment,” with the Congressman, noting the historic nature of Haaland’s nomination. Tribes were especially frustrated that Stauber failed to consult with them prior to his decision to circulate a letter to members of Congress seeking support for his effort.
Yet with more than 200 Republican members in the House, Stauber found just 14 other signatories, according to a copy of the letter that Stauber released on Tuesday. Stauber’s supporters include newly-elected Lauren Boebert, one of only two members of the House to openly espouse the Qanon conspiracy theory.
No other member of the Minnesota congressional delegation signed on to the letter.
Stauber lauded his effort, despite the marginal support he received. “I am proud to lead this letter to the Biden Administration because the Interior Department with Representative Haaland at the helm would be disastrous for northern Minnesota’s natural resources-based economy and working men and women across the nation,” wrote Stauber in a press release. “Not only has Representative Haaland championed expensive socialist policies like the Green New Deal, which seeks to force energy-sensitive mines, paper mills, and manufacturers in this country out of business, but she has also actively worked to end high-wage mining jobs here in the Northland.”
Advocates of the Green New Deal cite any number of economic analyses that show the net result of the investments recommended as part of the proposal would yield significant new job creation.
Tribal officials say they recognize the need for balance between environmental protection and the need for jobs. “We understand that you walk a fine line in the Eighth District in balancing the interests of industry versus the environment,” wrote Mille Lacs Band Chair Melanie Benjamin in a separate letter to Stauber. “Your letter cites your concern about jobs yet Indian tribes are the largest employer in your district.”
Tribal officials, in their joint letter, called on Stauber to end his efforts to derail Haaland’s nomination. “Ultimately, Indian tribes are eager to see how Rep. Haaland in her appointment as the Secretary will lead and transform the function of many Interior divisions on behalf of Tribes and enhance self-determination and self-governance within this next administration.”
As of Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources had not scheduled a hearing on Haaland’s nomination.