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State Representative Tony Cornish
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4240
For more information contact: Jason Wenisch 651-296-2317
NEWS RELEASE
REP. CORNISH SUPPORTS DEDICATED FUNDING AMENDMENT
ST. PAUL – By a vote of 85 to 46, the Minnesota House of Representatives approved legislation allowing citizens to decide whether they want to raise their sales taxes in order to provide more funding for Minnesota’s environment and the fine arts.
State Representative Tony Cornish (R-Good Thunder) supported the measure.
“I think we should have more funding for our environment, and I am extremely sympathetic to hunting and fishing issues, but I’m very concerned that the measure will fail at the ballot box this November,” said Cornish, a retired conservation officer. “We’re in a recession and I fear many people are not going to want their taxes raised, regardless of the reason. But most importantly, the public will make the call as to whether or not their taxes should be raised.”
Voters will be asked this November if they want to amend Minnesota’s Constitution in order to increase funds for clean water, wildlife, natural areas and the arts. A yes vote would increase Minnesota’s sales tax by 3/8 of one percent, which is expected to raise more than $290 million per year over a 25 year period.
Specifically, 33 percent of the increase would be used for wetlands, prairies, forests and habitat for fish, game and wildlife; 33 percent for water quality in lakes, rivers and streams and groundwater protection; 14.25 percent for parks and trails of regional and statewide significance; and 19.75 percent for arts, arts education, arts access and to preserve Minnesota’s history and cultural heritage.
“I’m also concerned that the council that will allocate this funding will be made up of more people from the arts community as opposed to those concerned about wildlife issues,” Cornish said. “Though I did vote for the bill, I have several concerns about issues needing to be addressed.”
If the voters turn down the proposal in November, Cornish said the hopes the legislature will act favorably on another plan that focus on protecting and preserving the outdoors without raising the sales tax or making the arts a Constitutional right.
This legislation would provide six direct ways for citizens to exercise their right to hunt, fish, and take game, including the right to keep and bear arms; maintaining healthy and abundant populations of fish and wildlife; maintaining ethical hunting, angling and trapping practices; and providing access to public land for the people to enjoy hunting, angling, trapping and other outdoor activities.
“If the dedicated funding amendment fails with the voters, hopefully these hunting and fishing ideas can be implemented,” Cornish said.
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