ST PAUL, Minn., February 14, 2008 – In a historic vote a decade in the making, the Minnesota Legislature today passed legislation giving voters the opportunity to amend the state’s constitution next November. If approved by the citizens next fall, the amendment will provide approximately $300 million annually to improve the state’s natural and cultural resources for the next 25 years. The new funding would be generated by increasing the sales tax by 3/8 of one percent, which amounts to about eight cents on a twenty dollar purchase.
Support for dedicated funding increased substantially after two consecutive rallies were held at the Capitol in 2005 and 2006, which drew nearly 8,000 sportsmen and other conservationists to St. Paul. Ducks Unlimited Executive Vice President Don Young spoke at the first rally and pledged Ducks Unlimited’s support to help make dedicated funding a reality.
“On behalf of the 42,000 members of DU in Minnesota, I congratulate the legislature for working to ensure Minnesota’s wetlands, waterfowl and hunting traditions have a brighter future ahead,” said Don Young.
DU has worked closely with members of the legislature and with several coalitions to help raise awareness and understanding about the need to provide additional funding for habitat and clean water initiatives.
If approved by the voters in November, Minnesota will become at least the third state to pass a constitutional amendment dedicating a portion of sales tax revenue to natural resources. Missouri and Arkansas passed amendments in 1976 and 1996, respectively.
“This vote puts Minnesota one step closer to providing urgently needed funding that will help reverse decades of wetland losses and develop new opportunities to recruit and retain waterfowl hunters who constitute DU’s most loyal supporters,” said Ryan Heiniger, DU director of conservation programs in Minnesota and Iowa. “We applaud members of the legislature for following through on their commitment to pass dedicated funding early in the 2008 session.”
With more than one million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world’s leading wetland and waterfowl conservation group. Wetlands are nature’s most productive ecosystems, but the United States has lost more than half of its original wetlands. Ducks Unlimited’s mission is to conserve, restore and manage wetlands and associated uplands to benefit waterfowl, other wildlife and people.
For more information on DU’s programs in Minnesota, www.ducks.org/livinglakes.
Media contact: Becky Jones Mahlum, 701-355-3507 bjonesmahlum@ducks.org