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State Representative Rick Hansen
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-6828
For more information contact: Ted Modrich 651-296-5809
Press/News Releases
REP. HANSEN: LEGISLATURE MUST PROVIDE GREATER DIRECTION AND OVERSIGHT FOR LEGACY DOLLARS
(ST. PAUL) – Today the Legislative Auditor released two reports on the spending of Legacy Amendment funds, with the first finding that the structures and procedures used to monitor Legacy funds vary widely, concerns that Legacy dollars are replacing money lost to budget cuts, and concerns about conflicts of interest. The second report, an audit of three of the funds — outdoors, clean water and parks — found that while internal controls were generally adequate to ensure the proper use of legacy funds, instances of noncompliance still occurred.
State Representative Rick Hansen (DFL – South St. Paul), member of the Legislative Audit Commission, participated in today’s meeting and released the following statement:
“Minnesotans have raised legitimate and significant concerns about Legacy fund use, oversight, and conflicts of interest and today the Legislative Auditor examined those issues. The Minnesota Constitution directs us ‘to protect, enhance and restore water quality in lakes, rivers and streams, and to protect groundwater from degradation.’ This is specific and clear. The progress on achieving these outcomes has so far been murky.
“Clean water is why many people supported the Legacy Amendment and it is identified in both reports as an area where we must deliver results for the public.
“This is a good baseline report to move forward and make corrections. Many of the fiscal findings deal with smaller amounts of dollars, but that does not mean they should receive less scrutiny or oversight. Minnesotans expect and deserve the knowledge and peace of mind that their Legacy dollars are spent properly. I fully support the recommendations of the Legislative Auditor to achieve greater accountability and better outcomes."
News Items
- House Passes Environment, Natural Resources, & Agriculture Conference Committee Report - (Posted: May 19 2013 12:00AM)
- Rep. Hansen: Legacy Bill Good For Environment, Cultural Institutions - (Posted: May 13 2013 12:00AM)
- House Passes Rep. Hansen's Sick Time Leave Legislation - (Posted: May 21 2013 11:51AM)
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