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State Representative Jeanne Poppe
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4193
For more information contact: Sandy Connolly 651-296-8877
Press/News Releases
HOUSE PASSES "LEGACY ACT" TO PROTECT ENVIRONMENT, ARTS
St. Paul, MN – On the third day of the 2008 legislative session, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed the "Legacy Act", a bill that will put a constitutional amendment on the ballot next November asking voters to dedicate a portion of the sales tax to protect the environment and the arts.
State Representative Jeanne Poppe (DFL-Austin) voted in favor of the bill, saying that constitutional amendments shouldn't be the first avenue used for making budget decisions, but after ten years of struggling with this concept of dedicated funding, it is time to put to rest the process questions and let the voters decide.
The bill will increase the sales tax by 0.38 percent, with funding dedicated to the following permanent funds:
· Outdoor Heritage Fund – 33 percent to be spent only to restore, protect and enhance wetlands, prairies, forests, and habitat for game, fish and wildlife.
· Clean Water Fund – 33 percent to be spent only to protect, enhance, and restore water quality in lakes, rivers, and streams, with at least 5 percent of the fund spent to protect drinking water sources.
· Parks and Trails Fund – 14.25 percent to be spent only to support parks and trails of regional or statewide significance.
· Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund – 19.75 percent to be spent only for arts, arts education and arts access, and to preserve Minnesota's history and cultural heritage.
"Over the past few years, state funding for the environment has diminished, while at the same time pollutants, chemicals, invasive species and other threats are damaging our lakes, streams, forests and drinking water," said Poppe. "I'm pleased we're letting voters decide for themselves if they want to spend the extra tax money for those specific purposes."
News Items
- POPPE SELECTED AS AGRICULTURE POLICY COMMITTEE CHAIR - (Posted: 2012-11-16 00:00:00)
- Rep. Jeanne Poppe Encourages High School Juniors to Apply for Minnesota House of Representatives Page Program - Application Deadline is November 19th - (Posted: 2012-11-12 00:00:00)
- HORMEL INSTITUTE EXPANSION SIGNED INTO LAW - 2012 legislative session adjourns sine die - (Posted: 2012-05-11 00:00:00)
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