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Senate kills bill dedicating sales tax money
Despite its high-powered sponsor and an army of vocal supporters, a constitutional amendment that would set aside sales tax money for environmental and cultural purposes suffered a defeat Tuesday in a Senate committee. The bill came up two votes short of the needed majority in the Senate Taxes Committee, dimming the measure's prospects this year. The Legislature is debating whether to put it on the 2008 ballot, leaving plenty of time to revive the amendment. Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller, DFL-Minneapolis, said he's not giving up on his bill for the year. "It's just a bump in the road," he said after the committee's 7-5 vote against it. Added John Schroers of the Minnesota Outdoor Heritage Alliance: "I don't think the fat lady has sung yet." The committee actually had eight opponents because Committee Chairman Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, didn't vote. He said later he wouldn't have supported the bill. The amendment has repeatedly fallen short of the statewide ballot despite a prolonged and organized lobbying effort by outdoors enthusiasts, environmentalists and arts advocates. Even though voters wouldn't have their say for 18 months, supporters say they want as much time as possible to wage their public campaign. In its current form, voters would be asked if they wanted to raise the state sales tax three-eighths of 1 percent and put the proceeds into three pots of money: one-third for reserving and enhancing fish and wildlife habitats and land resources; 43 percent for protecting and restoring bodies of water, parks, trails and natural areas; and 24 percent for supporting nonprofit arts organizations and increasing access to arts education. Pogemiller said it would assure about $300 million a year for programs that often get shortchanged during the budget-setting process. Sen. Keith Langseth, DFL-Glyndon, said he doesn't dispute the cause, but he has reservations about the means. "We're heading down a slippery slope when it comes to budgeting through the constitution," Langseth said. Others objected to the breadth of the amendment, saying the cultural funding shouldn't be put on par with outdoors initiatives. "I don't see arts funding as high as a priority to enshrine in the state constitution," said Sen. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove. Pogemiller said the arts component is vital to winning passage because it give voters with different recreational interests a reason to go along. "You have a constitutional amendment that a vegetarian in my district can vote for," he said. "You have a constitutional amendment that a huntin'-fisherperson on an island in northern Minnesota -- in Senator Bakk's district -- can vote for even if they never go see their daughter in a dance recital." A companion House bill, which has a different distribution formula, was heard in its first committee on Tuesday but no action was planned until Wednesday. By Brian Bakst, Associated Press Writer (Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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