Accessibility menu
State Representative Rick Hansen
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-6828
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
Column/LTE
SPECIAL SESSION NECESSARY TO PASS DEDICATED FUNDING BILL
To the Editor:
The time has long passed for our state to adequately invest in protecting our natural resources. Continued stalemate on how to adequately fund our natural resources in the last several legislative sessions has created a fragile and uncertain funding situation for our environment.
According to the Minnesota Environmental Partnership, 40% of the lakes, rivers, and streams in Minnesota are contaminated. Our state is also suffering from invasive species like the Zebra Mussel, Eurasian Milfoil, and others that endanger our waters and native fish populations. On top of that, critical habitat for native species is quickly deteriorating. Amid these and many other concerns, only a little over 1% of the state's budget is set aside for the environment. This year we have changed direction on the environment, but resources are needed.
Fortunately, the House and Senate reached a compromise agreement this session on the long-debated dedicated funding proposal that would let voters decide to increase the sales tax by 3/8 of a percent for the outdoors and cultural heritage.
I was extremely disappointed that the bill was derailed in the final hours of the legislative session by the contentious budget debate. This is simply unacceptable, because without sending this proposal to the voters in the fall of 2008, much needed funding for our environment will simply run out.
Since Governor Pawlenty vetoed this year's bonding bill that included essential funding for our environment, federal matching funds for a wetland reserve program will run out on December 31 of this year. This will limit our state's ability to restore our wetlands, promote natural habitat for native wildlife, and protect our water quality.
Last year, Governor Pawlenty indicated that he would call a special session to resolve the issue of dedicated funding, if the House and Senate reached a consensus. The fact that each body has reached an agreement in the adoption of the current conference report should indicate to the Governor that both bodies are indeed ready to pass this bill.
For that reason, I am asking Governor Pawlenty to call a special session with the expressed intent of passing the dedicated funding conference report this year to put the issue on the ballot as soon as possible. A bill to match unmet needs for wetland protection programs could also be adopted. After years of waiting, the time has come to let the voters decide just how important our valuable natural resources are in this state.
Rick Hansen
State Representative
News Items
- Rep. Rick Hansen chosen as leader of Great Lakes Legislative Caucus - (Posted: Dec 27 2012 8:34AM)
- Need Holiday Gifts? Consider DNR Gift Cards - (Posted: 2012-11-27 00:00:00)
- Looking Forward to Serving, Getting the Job Done - (Posted: 2012-11-14 00:00:00)
- Archived News Items
- Subscribe to RSS News Feeds
- Read more about RSS.