"We are a constitutional republic. We elect legislators to do these things. If this amendment passes, it will create a horrific precedent" - Quote from Article.

That's ridiculous statement.

The founders of this country allowed for the idea of a ballot initiative when government fails to act. Here's a better understanding.

"I believe in the (ballot) initiative, which should be used not to destroy representative government, but to correct it when it becomes misrepresentative." - Theodore Roosevelt

Minnesota has had 100's of ballot initiative's since 1858 and this took 10 years hardily a epidemic.

Was Souchery for or against people voting on the Twin's Stadium?

All the sportsmen group’s support dedicated funding here is the partial list:

Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, Sportsmen for Change, National Wild Turkey Federation, Trout Unlimited, Minnesota Bass Federation, Ruffed Grouse Society, Minnesota Muskie Alliance, Delta Waterfowl, Minnesota Waterfowl Association, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Becoming and Outdoors Women, TIP Turn In Poachers and Safari Club International.

Sportsmen for Change participated in defeating Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson DFL Willmar and (SCI) Safari Club International is running ads right now against Al Franken.

Of course those groups are supporting it.....they're going to make out like a thief in the night if it passes and the public are the ones getting robbed! The sad thing is we're leaving the door unlocked and wide open to let them waltz right in with their loot bag.

Many of those groups are affiliates of national organizations. It'll be nice to see our money funneled out of state to be spent on other projects. Oh wait, there's that so-called citizen's oversight committee (appointed by politicians) to watch over the funding...yeah right!! Please don't be naive.

This ballot initiative is nothing more than a bailout of our elected representatives since they couldn't get it done as they should have, and now they can pass the blame onto the public when they are accused of raising taxes. Voting to impose a tax on oneself is ludicrous and opening the door to further taxation.

This amendment is indeed a horrible precedent and must be defeated, or we have been defeated as citizens.

With the recent economy, you guys still believe we need more taxes? Would be a great cause if that's where the money would stay. Even then, nows not the time for more taxes.

LMITOUT, find another job. The one you're doing here stinks. This bill can only help us, and your contention that approval sets a bad precedent is only conjecture, at best. Move your head around a bit - you might like the view in clean air better. I have no trouble supporting this use of public money.

Don't let speculation spoil your spectacles, brother...

Conjecture....kind of like the belief that this bill can only help us?

When you have legislators frothing at the thought of using this same trick to fund other items if this passes it surely does set a precedent....a bad one. Speaker of the House, Kelliher, has already said she's looking forward to doing the same with a gas tax. You can see the dollar signs in their eyes and less in your wallet. It is a slippery slope, but people don't care as long as they get their's. It's definitely a "me" mindset around here and this dedicated funding amendment is very selfish.

I am disappointed in how quickly the public forgets the lottery shell game. After the public approved of the state lottery in an initiative much like this one, the legislature changed how the proceeds would be divvied out before the first lottery ticket was even sold. We should have no reason to believe they aren't going to do the same thing here. At least the lottery proceeds are voluntarily paid by the ticket purchasers, but it's hard to avoid sales tax. One of the worst parts of this entire deal is that this tax is regressive by nature, hurting those who have less the most. They don't need another tax to pay on top of everything else, especially during a economic downturn....none of us do.

This discussion has been around for a while. People are pretty much settled in on which side of the fence they are on. I am with LMITOUT, they have plenty of money to do the jog right, they just need to learn how to manage it better. I would even consider it if there wasn't stuff like fact they were supposed to use the lottery for this and then of course this.


Article from the Duluth News Tribune, and you want to give them more money to mispend?????

Quote:
Top DNR official resigns after audit review
By David Shaffer, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Published Sunday, September 28, 2008
St. Paul — Minnesota’s chief conservation officer resigned Friday after an audit that found his agency misspent public money and illegally solicited donations for a game warden conference last year.

Col. Mike Hamm walked into the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources headquarters in St. Paul and submitted a letter of retirement, ending 36 years with the agency. For the past five years he has led the division that enforces fish, game and other natural resources laws.

Hamm’s retirement came a day after he was allowed to read an investigative report about himself at a meeting with DNR Commissioner Mark Holsten and DNR’s personnel director, Denise Legato.

Legato would not discuss the meeting, and Holsten was out of town and unavailable for comment.

The investigative report has not been made public. But an earlier Legislative Audit concluded that a conflict-of-interest law was broken and $300,000 in public money had been misspent on the week-long event that featured a golf outing, fishing on Lake Mille Lacs, a fish fry and other entertainment.

Hamm, who is 55 and eligible for retirement, has served in the DNR since 1972, first as a parks worker, and since 1977 as a conservation officer and supervisor. In May, he and his wife, Capt. Cathy Hamm, a supervisor in the enforcement division, were placed on paid administrative leave during the investigations, which were prompted by a StarTribune story about the conference spending.

His resignation may be just the beginning of the shakeup at the DNR. Legato said several other DNR employees face investigations as a result of the investigative findings. It’s still undecided what will happen to Capt. Hamm, she said.

Mike Hamm did not return telephone calls for comment. But his friend Rep. Tony Cornish, R-Good Thunder, said Hamm is a scapegoat who was pushed out the door — and that high-level DNR officials deserve the boot instead.

“Holsten has said he takes responsibility, but what does that mean if nothing is going to happen to him?” said Cornish, referring to a comment the commissioner made at a legislative hearing.

Other legislators had critical words about Hamm and DNR higher-ups.

“Minnesota can’t have a chief law enforcement officer who doesn’t know the law and doesn’t enforce it — that’s the bottom line,” said Rep. Jean Wagenius, DFL-Minneapolis, chairwoman of an environmental oversight committee that held hearings on the DNR conference spending.

The investigative report by Minneapolis attorney Tammy Pust has not been released because officials say they must redact non-public information. Legislators said they had not seen the report. The redacted version is expected to be released next week, officials said.

In previous statements, Hamm has defended the conference spending and fundraising.
_________________________

For those of you who are against the initiative, is it because it is a new tax and/or because the non- outdoors/environment portion(s)(i.e. arts etc)? Would you have been for it if the 3/8's came out of the existing sales tax and/or if it wouldn't have included the other provisions (arts etc.)? I am asking this in all scincerity and I am not trying to bait any of you into anything(and you can hold me to this statement), it is pure curiosity.

Someone please tell me how this will help the outdoors??? Will they add a new landing on Prior or Minnetonka? Will they add some more ATV trails up north? How about a some lighting by the 371 landing on Leech?? Increase my bag limits?? Are you people lacking commmom sense? I assume if you support this than you also support the notion that schools need more money even though it's 45% of the state budget??

"Of course those groups are supporting it.....they're going to make out like a thief in the night if it passes and the public are the ones getting robbed!" - L Out

Nonsense.

Were are you getting this garbage? They partner with the dedicated fund to do habitat projects not spend it in a wanton manner. Its a government - private sector project partnership via matching grants.

"Article from the Duluth News Tribune, and you want to give them more money to mispend?????" Up North

The DNR does NOT get the Money. Its right in the DNR FAQ's on their website.

Will the DNR receive this money?

"These dollars will not go directly to the
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
(DNR)."

The DNR has to compete for projects along with every other sportsmens group, club and chapter.

"Projects can be proposed by the DNR
as well as other organizations and agencies."

That's the whole point of the Lessard Outdoors Citizens Council & Matching habitat project grants. I trust citizens allot more than the dnr or the politicians.

Not all improvements to the outdoors would necessarily result in a direct benefit to your access to hunting, fishing and recreational vehicle use or increase your bag limits.

The funding could be to protect or improve the environment (a.k.a habitat for aquatic and terrestrial wildlife). It could potentially be used to purchase land or conservation easments on areas that could potentially be maintained as wildlife habitat or restored to wildlife habitat. That could also possibly result in additional access for hunters or other recreational activities. Money could be used to improve conditions resulting in contaminants/pollutants entering lakes, rivers and streams thus providing more clean water and better aquatic habitat. Those are a few examples.

I took for granted that those concepts were a portion of the common sense you asked if others were lacking. As indicated by your post apparently not .

Apparently you didn't read the rest of my post where I said the committee is comprised of people appointed by politicians. They may not be a "politician", but they are the next best/worst thing as they are right out of the politician's hip pocket.



I never said anything about the DNR/government receiving the money. In fact, I said that many of the groups you listed were affiliates of national organizations. The private sector receiving and campaigning for this amendment is the whole problem! Ask yourself one thing: Why are all these private groups campaigning so hard for this amendment? Is it because they care oh so much about the environment? LOL. Good one. They are in it for the dough, plain and simple, and over half of the supporters come from the Arts side. That should be proof right there they're just looking for the cash and aren't as concerned about the alleged environmental improvements which this bill/amendment started out as before the Arts was tagged on to get votes.

There are so many things wrong with this concept it shouldn't even be on the ballot, let alone have a glimmer of hope of passing. The unfortunate thing is it probably will and this state will continue to swirl towards the highest tax rate in the country. Something to be proud of right there! At least the special interest groups (private sector) will be doing well! The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Yeah that's MN nice, you betcha.

IMO, as with most proposals for new taxes, the money is already there. They need to learn to budget what they have. The time of a crashing market IS NOT the time to talk about raising taxes. How much is this going to rais for the outdoors? Is it more than the money they have spent and lost jobs over? This goes for every dept. in every part of the state and country, STOP wasting our money and learn how to budget with what you have!!!!

I am against new taxes period. We pay way more than we should now.

I'm votin YES cause I'm a hick,ignorant,uneducated backwoods turnip truck ridin hick,but palin is hot so I'll vote fer her too