ST. PAUL -- Minnesota lawmakers appear more willing than ever to let voters decide this November whether the state should dedicate tax money to preserve the outdoors.
But getting a proposed constitutional amendment through the unpredictable twists and turns of the legislative process unscathed is proving difficult.
For about a decade, legislators and hunting and fishing groups have lobbied for a steady source of revenue for their projects. They argue state budget cuts have hurt the outdoors and that dedicated funding will help protect the environment. Polluted lakes could be cleaned or wildlife habitats could be preserved, they contend.
The Minnesota Senate is set to vote Monday on its version of the outdoors amendment, which would use a sales tax increase to benefit hunting and fishing interests, parks and trails projects, water cleanup efforts and arts and cultural initiatives.
Sen. Dallas Sams, who is carrying the legislation, said there are enough votes in the DFL-led Senate to pass the bill. It calls for the state sales tax to be increased from 6.5 percent to 6.875 percent.
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"It's a quality of life thing," the Staples DFLer said of why the amendment needs to be on the ballot this fall, adding that Minnesotans value the outdoors and the arts. "I think people are ready to do something."
Sams' bill sailed through committees with little resistance, though some lawmakers don't want arts programs to get dedicated funding. The arts provision was added largely to gain support for the amendment among metro area legislators.
"I think what the arts does is (add) a lot of support across the state," Sams said.
The Senate proposal would generate roughly $277 million annually in 2009, when it is fully funded. Of that, $94 million would be used for fish and wildlife projects. A clean water fund, parks projects and the arts would each get about $60 million.
Representatives have had a more challenging and unpredictable time trying to agree on how much to spend in their outdoors amendment proposal.
Rep. Tom Hackbarth, R-Cedar, initially wanted the Legislature to approve a proposed amendment that would dedicate one-eighth of one percent of the existing sales tax to fish and wildlife programs. Hackbarth is carrying the lead bill, though another House Republican proposal has been introduced.
Hackbarth's bill has changed drastically in House committees. It now calls for a sales tax increase like Sams' bill and funds similar programs.
Political gamesmanship also led to changes including a provision allowing voters to constitutionally ban same-sex marriage, which the House already approved, and a measure that would change dedicated funding for transportation projects.
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"Things are happening to this bill that are really strange," said a frustrated Hackbarth, who acknowledged the bill won't pass in its current form.
"At this point, the bill is a mess," House Speaker Steve Sviggum, R-Kenyon, declared recently. "It's in a real bad position."
