In response to Gary Gilman's letter to the editor (Public Forum, Oct. 23) dealing with dedicated state funding for conservation, I offer several observations as well as corrections.
Gilman described permanent funding as "a huge new sales tax increase." Huge? Hardly. The Senate bill called for an addition to the state sales tax of C, of 1 percent, amounting to 37 cents on every $100 spent on taxable goods, providing reliable, long-term funding for generations to come. Monies generated would be dedicated to preserving our lakes and streams, improving fish and wildlife habitat and updating our parks and trails statewide, not just in the metro area as suggested by Gilman. And the Senate bill would have provided permanent funding for wildlife conservation without negatively affecting other parts of our state's budget -- specifically schools, roads and nursing homes.
For Gilman to question Sen. Dean Johnson's "lack of leadership" is totally ridiculous. Although the issue has been around for over 10 years, dedicated funding for conservation never passed either the House or the Senate until Johnson became Senate majority leader. That's legislative leadership in anyone's book.
Johnson says that dedicated conservation funding will be at the forefront of issues to be dealt with when the 2007 session convenes in January.
After reading his letter, I have come to the conclusion that Gilman is more concerned with political gamesmanship than with good public policy.
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Dan Croonquist
Kandiyohi
