Editorial: Legacy measure needs watching
Published 9:33 am Friday, November 28, 2008
Minnesota voters agreed to dedicate $300 million a year in new sales tax revenue to improve our water, natural and cultural resources.
It’s not surprising a majority of voters in our outdoorsy and cultured state agreed to amend the Constitution. Most folks obviously found something to like with the question.
The Legislature rejected such funding over the years, mainly because money was tight and individual lawmakers wrote bills too narrowly focused on a single special interest.
Now the race for the big public pie begins. You can expect every group defining itself — or redefining itself — as a cultural endeavor, environmental advocate or water safety council will try to get funds.
Unfortunately, the constitutional amendment does nothing to hold the state responsible for how the money’s spent. In other words, the amendment doesn’t protect citizens.
A group of eight appointed citizens and four lawmakers will make up the powerful group doling out this money. They will be pressured and lobbied to funnel money to priorities they set — but for which they are not accountable. This has the potential to replicate congressional pork-barrel practices.
Amendment supporters had their hearts in the right place. The people have spoken.
Now Minnesotans must hold the group holding the cash accountable by demanding transparency in all decisions, starting with how the 12 members define criteria for funding projects.
We encourage them to extend the “Clean Water, Land and Legacy” amendment nickname to include clean government and an open meeting environment. That’s a legacy all Minnesotans should embrace.
— Red Wing Republican Eagle, Nov. 19