Voters in November would be asked to dedicate a portion of the state's sales tax to preserving the outdoors and the arts under a bill that passed the House on Tuesday, its most significant progress in six years of debate.
The vote presages deliberations with the Senate about whether the sales tax should be increased or existing money should be used.
The Outdoor Heritage Amendment passed the House 78 to 55 after more than five hours of on-again/off-again debate that had speakers talking passionately about quality of life issues and that often pitted supporters of hunting and fishing against supporters of the arts and humanities.
If voters approve, funding would begin in 2009. The proposal, long sought by outdoors groups, has become a key political cog in the 2006 legislative session, and how it emerges out of conference committee could be a key factor in how the session will end.
The House bill, sponsored by Rep. Tom Hackbarth, R-Cedar, would ask voters to decide to amend the Constitution to dedicate 3/16ths of 1 percent of the current 6.5 percent sales tax.
The version of the bill passed by the Senate calls for a sales-tax increase of 3/8ths of 1 percent.
Despite the differences in the two versions, supporters were clearly gleeful over the vote, the first time the constitutional amendment proposal has reached the House floor in more than six years of attempts.
Rep. Mike Charron, R-Woodbury, sponsor of the arts amendment, said funding the arts is valuable in maintaining the state's quality of life. Arts groups have aggressively lobbied to be included in the package.
"What makes Minnesota the kind of place that people want to move to?" Charron asked. "I would contend it is our natural resources and our vibrant arts community. For every soccer parent, there is an equal number of parents taking their children to piano practice or dance. Without the arts, Minnesota is a North Dakota without missile silos."
Rep. Tony Sertich, DFL- Chisholm, offered an amendment that would have duplicated the Senate version, saying that would assure long-time supporters that it would be on the ballot. It was voted down by two votes, but the closeness of the vote could indicate some appetite for a sales tax increase in the House.
Hackbarth, who has seen his bill cannibalized in legislative maneuvering, said that he looked forward to the conference committee but that he was adamant he did not want the bill to return to the House with any sales-tax increase.
Outdoors and arts advocacy groups said they were taking no official position on increasing the existing tax or relying on current funding. Some have suggested that the measure has a better chance of passage if it does not take away from programs now funded by the sales tax, such as education and health care.
Opponents argued against enshrining dedicated funding in the Constitution, saying it would restrict future legislators from adjusting to changing economic times.
Said Rep. Fran Bradley, R-Rochester, who voted against the measure: "We are elected to take on the responsibility of making good and tough choices and this takes that away. ... Autopilot is not the way to lead and to budget."
The measure would not be subject to a veto from the governor. After the House vote, Gov. Tim Pawlenty said the vote represented "important and needed progress for our great Minnesota outdoors and clean water."Minneapolis Star Tribune
