State Sen. Dan Skogen, right, poses with Clare and Nancy Anderson with their new Gold Star plate. Their son, Major Stuart Anderson, was killed in Iraq in 2006.

The new "Gold Star" license plates are now available to the parents and spouses of those who have died in active military service.

The legislation for the new plates was shepherded through the Minnesota Senate by Senator Dan Skogen. The idea for the plate came from Clare and Nancy Anderson of Hoffmann, whose son, Major Stuart Anderson, was killed in Iraq on January 7, 2006.

The bill was rolled into an omnibus appropriations bill and survived a conference committee test before it passed both the House and Senate and was signed by Governor Pawlenty.

"The Gold Star plate is an expression of gratitude to families of military members who paid the ultimate price to preserve our freedom and security," said Senator Skogen.  "It was an honor for me to carry this legislation in the Senate."

Even though 41 states offered "Gold Star" plates, similar legislation in Minnesota had stalled in previous sessions. Senator Skogen reached out to the governor's office, and with help from the Veterans Administration, was able to get the bill passed.

The plates are paid for by the "Support Our Troops" license account. "Everyone who purchases a Support Our Troops plate is helping to cover the costs of the Gold Star plates for deserving military families," said Skogen.   "It's a great way for all of us to say thanks."

Parents and spouses of fallen service members can apply for the special plates at any Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services registrar office.

Governor Pawlenty's administration recently reported that, beginning next spring, the state may be forced to borrow money to pay ongoing bills. This is because of lower-than-expected revenue collections.

This news comes on the heels of word that the administration will delay corporate refunds to 461 companies and sales tax refunds of up to 400 businesses until the end of the year. This was the second such delay in six months - again stemming from the state's poor cash flow situation.

As you can imagine, many Minnesota businesses have concerns about cash flow, too. Most can ill-afford delays in refunds that they were banking on to pay their own bills. It's a tribute to their sense of civic duty that the response to this has been fairly muted. However, it's a stretch for the administration to repeatedly hold out paying refunds simply because it's easy to delay cutting a check. If anything, in the interest of stimulating the economy, Minnesota businesses ought to be getting repaid sooner.

At this point, Tom Hanson, the governor's commissioner in charge of the budget, doesn't know the full extent of the expected borrowing. He pointed out that revenue collections are already running $223 million lower than projections.

Borrowing money to pay ongoing bills makes the state's budget situation even worse. Servicing the debt on that borrowing adds to the state's expenditures. It also puts Minnesota's favorable credit rating in jeopardy, which would mean higher interest payments for those things that we should be investing in, like infrastructure.

In the real world, no one would recommend that a family put everyday expenses on a credit card. (Some do it anyway, and at their financial peril.)   It's a really bad sign when a state government does it.

This situation is another in a growing list of symptoms of a state budget that is structurally unbalanced. For the sake of Minnesota's long-term viability, it is imperative that both the governor and the Legislature work out a sustainable budget solution that enshrines a simple, yet vital concept: You can't spend more than you take in.

For the last few years, this has been accomplished by the use of budget shifts, delayed payments, shifting financial burdens to other levels of government, and unallotment with vague promises to repay. In truth, that's not real balance - it's sweeping problems under the rug.

Arriving at a true and honest budget will take hard decisions. Last year, the Legislature took a shot at it in the form of a balanced budget bill that made substantial cuts and raised some revenue in a responsible and straightforward manner. This was vetoed amidst a partisan firestorm that ill-served both political parties.

Senator Dan Skogen was one of five Minnesota legislators awarded with the "Friend of Minnesota Tourism" Award by the Minnesota Resort and Campground Association, (MRCA).

Along with the other honorees, two GOP and two DFL legislators, Skogen was cited for his work to promote Minnesota's tourism industry.

"I'm very gratified for this citation," said Skogen, "because tourism is such an important part of the economy of my area and for the state as a whole."

"Tourism employs nearly a quarter-million Minnesotans - about 10% of the state's workforce," said Senator Skogen. "In all, it generates $11 billion for Minnesota's economy every year, and generates more than two-thirds of a billion dollars in sales tax revenue.

At a press conference held last week, the governor announced his proposal for several new health care reform initiatives. The announcement came at the same time the federal government moved forward on its own national health care reform. The governor's initiatives included allowing the sale of health insurance across state lines, ranking health care providers on cost and quality, and offering a high deductible plan and EBT card within the MinnesotaCare and Medical Assistance programs.  

These ideas deserve discussion. What also deserves discussion is the effect of the governor's unallotment of funds that covered about 33,000 people from a health care plan for very poor people called General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC.)

Who are they? Many of them are former patients of state hospitals and other institutions serving mentally ill and developmentally disabled persons.   Many are veterans. What they have in common is that for one reason or another they do not qualify for federal government health care coverage because they fail to meet one or more criteria. By the federal government's standard, they are "cured." But to employers, they are often too difficult to maintain on the job, especially in a recession. What GAMC provides to them are the medicines and treatments that help attain a level that enables them to function on their own. Without them, some will slide back into dependence on far more expensive health care programs.

Some will debate about whether people in such a circumstance "deserve" help from the government. But there should be consensus on the fact that when these individuals need medical care, that local providers and hospitals--and property tax payers and insurance policy holders--shouldn't be stuck with the bills. There should also be consensus on the idea that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

The result of the GAMC decision has already led to hospitals in every part of the state talking about cutbacks. Many hospitals have started the budgeting process for 2010 and are looking at extensive layoffs, reduction in services, and crowded emergency rooms. Some rural hospitals--already on the financial brink--may be forced to shut their doors.

There are five and a half million people living in Minnesota. A very small number, about one-half of one percent, are living in the shadows between ability and disability, between helplessness and self-sufficiency. Cutting off their access to the medications and treatment they need to function in society is false economy.

In tough times, Minnesota's food shelves are struggling. Minnesota's agriculture community is ready to step up to help.  

Last session, the Legislature created the Feeding Minnesota Task Force, which is working to identify the issues surrounding hunger, and make recommendations to make it easier to donate and distribute surplus food that is grown in the state. It could prove to be an effective strategy to reduce waste and hunger in our community.

According to Hunger Solutions Minnesota, one in 17 Minnesotans rely upon local food shelves to help feed their families. Demand at food shelves has grown tremendously in recent years. Since 2000, food shelf visits in Minnesota have increased by 62 percent, with many organizations reporting double and triple increases in just the past 12 months.

Many farmers are willing to make donations, but better coordination is needed. Food shelves are not always open when farmers, who are already plenty busy during harvests, drop by with donations.  

The task force is bringing together farmers, transporters, processors, and food banks with the hope of developing a system where the elements of the food-to-table miracle more closely resemble the system that works in the marketplace.

The Feeding Minnesota Task Force began meeting in September and will continue developing recommendations throughout the year. They plan to have recommendations to the Legislature in November in time for action during the 2010 session.

For more information on the task force, visit the Department of Agriculture's website at www.mda.state.mn.us and keyword search "Feeding Minnesota Task Force." Citizens interested in donating food to one of Minnesota's 300 food shelves can visit www.hungersolutions.org/find to locate a food shelf for their community.

Legislative budget leaders will begin meeting to discuss budget options for the upcoming legislative session.

It'll be one of a number of conversations that will take place in a greatly needed attempt to build a bipartisan consensus on Minnesota's future.

A good start came late this summer when a bipartisan group of 12 former governors and legislative leaders convened and issued recommendations for addressing the gaping budget deficit that's facing Minnesota at the end of the current biennium.

Their recommendations included: combining spending cuts with revenue increases to preserve state priorities; creating and maintaining an appropriate budget reserve; and strictly matching spending to revenue in each biennial budget, without the use of spending shifts or accounting gimmicks.

That's a standard that the DFL and GOP ought to agree on. It's based on the same sort of conservative accounting principles that any smart business or farm operation would implement. It would serve Minnesota well to follow that example.

The first meeting will be held this week at the State Capitol. You'll be able to watch video of the hearing by going to www.senate.mn.

To build long-term economic strength for our state, we need open and honest conversations between legislators and the public without regard to political affiliation and economic situation. In other words, we're in this together, folks.   Some straight talk, reasonableness, and compromise will help us build the sort of state we will be proud to leave to our children and grandchildren.

Last week, a group of Minnesota mayors traveled the state to call attention to the impact of state cuts to local government aid (LGA). The mayors, from all parts of Greater Minnesota, focused on how state aid cuts force them to choose between reducing or eliminating city services and raising property taxes on residents.

They make a strong point. While some in St. Paul have tried to paint local government aid as some kind of big-government program, the reality is something else. What LGA really represents is a return of a portion of our state tax dollars we send to St. Paul to do the things we need to do locally.

With the LGA cut, it means that even more of our money is staying in St. Paul. When we get a lower return on our investment in state government, it has an impact on the services that cities and counties can provide. Something has to give, and the upshot for counties and local communities is higher property taxes and cuts in services.

Funding for LGA since 2002 has fallen by about 44 percent. The Legislature has been able to mitigate some of the governor's proposed cuts to LGA, and even passed a property tax relief bill in 2008. However, those modest gains were all but erased by the governor's recent unallotments, which have cut $211 million from the LGA program and more than $100 million from county program aid.

The Legislature has formed an LGA Study Group, comprised of representatives, senators, and city officials, to begin working on a long-term solution to the property tax problem. The study group's first meeting is at 1 p.m. on Oct. 15 in Room 10 of the State Office Building in St. Paul.

According to Minnesota's Commissioner of Revenue, the LGA cut will result in at least $238 million in property tax increases statewide. In a real sense, this isn't a cut in spending; it's a shift of the tax burden to property owners.

Property taxes in Minnesota cities have gone up nearly two thirds since 2002. Clearly, a new approach must be taken to help counties and cities maintain vital services, while reining in the growth of state spending.

On October 1st, special Gold Star license plates will become available to the spouse or parent of a person who has died while in active service in the military. The plates will be free of charge, the costs being covered by a portion of the fees collected from those who purchase Minnesota's "Support Our Troops" license plates.

I was proud to be the Senate's chief author of the legislation that authorized this distinction, and proud that Governor Pawlenty chose to unveil the plates in a moving ceremony in the rotunda of the State Capitol on September 22. The ceremony featured families of fallen service members and General Larry Shellito, Adjutant General of the Minnesota National Guard.

The special license plate features a background of clouds, with an American Flag design serving as the backdrop for an eagle. Two gold stars flank the design on the top, and the words "Gold Star Family" appears below the license number. It's a beautiful, dignified design.

The men and women of our armed forces protect our freedoms and way of life. The families of these brave Americans shoulder a burden on behalf of all of us, too.

When a member of our armed forces dies in defense of America, the parents and spouses of the fallen have themselves given the ultimate gift: the life of a child, a husband or a wife.

As the beneficiaries of their sacrifice, all of us owe them our gratitude and honor, just as we would honor their sons and daughters who gave their last full measure at freedom's altar. No words, no gesture or expression of gratitude can make up for their loss. Our gratitude and remembrance must be lasting.

When these plates start showing up on autos, trucks and motorcycles, we'll see them every day. It'll give us one more reminder of the tremendous price that is paid by some to protect our nation.

For those who are reading this who are either the spouse or parent of someone who has died in active service, you can apply for one of these special plates by contacting any Minnesota Department of Public Safety service center after October 1.

State Senator Dan Skogen reminds area stockmen that the Livestock Investment Grant Program will again be available in 2009. After receiving hundreds of applications in 2008, the Legislature recognized its success and funded the program again for 2009. Senator Skogen says that livestock producers have until November 30 to apply for the grants.

"Last year's effort proved that helping livestock producers improve their operations pays off for the local economy," said Senator Skogen.  "Even with a tight state budget, investments in this area pay dividends both locally and statewide."

Livestock producers who qualify can be reimbursed 10 percent of the first $500,000 of investment to buy, build or improve buildings or facilities for livestock production. Fencing, feeding, and waste management equipment is also eligible. Improvements made since January 1 of this year are eligible for consideration. The grant will not pay for livestock purchases or for debt refinancing.

Added this year is a provision that allows producers who suffered a loss due to a natural disaster or unintended consequence to use the grant to help offset some of those losses if they rebuild.

Applications for grants are awarded competitively. Livestock producers who unsuccessfully applied for the grant last year will not have to reapply.   However, those who did receive grants will need to apply again to be eligible for consideration.  

For more information on the program, visit the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's website at www.mda.state.mn.us.

Back in July, former Governor Arne Carlson and former Congressman Tim Penny wrote a stern opinion piece in the Star Tribune about Minnesota's budget situation. They called for a summit of state leaders to "meet with a variety of state economists to gain an understanding of the full depth of the impending crisis along with the options available."

This week that summit took place. Gathered were present and former House speakers, Senate majority leaders, and former Governors Carlson, Al Quie, and Wendell Anderson, along with the Finance directors for Governors Ventura, Carlson, and Perpich.

They heard presentations from the nonpartisan budget officers of the House and Senate, as well as Gov. Pawlenty's state economist and state demographer.

The message they presented was sobering. The state's structural budget deficit currently tops $4.4 billion even before adjusting for inflation or factoring the effects of the governor's unallotment. The nonpartisan financial experts warn that when inflation is considered, Minnesota could face a $7 to $8 billion budget deficit in 2011.

Then consider the assessment of Tom Gillaspy, the state demographer, who pointed out that in 2008 alone, Minnesota had a 30 percent increase of workers turning age 62. This is a sign that the 'baby-boom' generation is aging and demand for services is going to climb at a brisk rate, while funds going into state coffers tapers off due to a greater percentage of Minnesotans living on fixed incomes.

These nonpartisan experts stress that "quick-fix" budget solutions are no longer a viable option, and that tough choices must be made to balance Minnesota's budget for the long haul.

How do we change course and set Minnesota back on a road to long-term economic success? According to Tom Stinson, the state economist, Minnesota must work to increase productivity and per-capita income growth. Increasing productivity is not just producing cheaper; it's also increasing the value of the products produced. To do that, our state needs wise investments in human capital, research, and infrastructure. It also needs to set taxes at a reasonable level to encourage more private investment.

These challenges are coming at a time in our state and country when partisanship is rawer and more unhinged than at any point in our lifetimes.   However, the importance of these issues demands that exactly the opposite approach is needed. It is imperative that lawmakers of both parties put their heads together to take on these issues that lead to decisions that might disappoint some of the most partisan voices of the left and right, but will do the most good for Minnesotans.

Scoring short-term political hits may make headlines, but recent experience is proving that such gamesmanship doesn't solve any problems. Putting our state back on solid fiscal ground is vital to Minnesota's future. It requires all of us to set aside our differences and work together to make it happen.

Minnesota's hospitals, health care providers, and a group of legislators recently started meeting to come up with ways to deal with a loss of $400 million to General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC).

Most of the funding for the program goes to local hospitals. Governor Tim Pawlenty vetoed funding for GAMC during the last legislative session.

GAMC provides health care for over 30,000 adults, the majority of whom face mental illness and chemical-dependency issues. Many hospitals and health care experts worry that eliminating health care coverage for these individuals could have a detrimental effect on other areas, such as an increase in suicide, homelessness, unemployment, crime, and the use of expensive emergency room care.

"In years past, many of the people who now rely on GAMC would have been committed to state hospitals." explained Senator Dan Skogen. "The costs were substantial, and the courts determined that many of those commitments were unjustified. The people that would have been hospitalized in the past are now living in communities in every corner of the state. GAMC is needed to make sure they have access to the health care and medications they need so they do not become a danger to themselves or to others."

The GAMC cut was scheduled to become effective on July 1, 2010, but an additional unallotment by the governor will cut another $15 million by moving the effective date up to March of next year.

At a meeting held last week, the Minnesota Hospital Association commented that the overall loss of funding will be devastating to hospitals and local communities. They said that hospitals must start the budgeting process now and can't wait to see if a funding solution will emerge.  

"Everyone agrees that public health care costs need to be trimmed, but we need to be smart about it. We should concentrate on cutting what is wasteful or unnecessary, and not just shift state government costs to businesses and families with private health insurance," said Senator Skogen.

"We also must keep medical providers in Greater Minnesota," said Skogen.   "Here's an example. At last week's meeting, Regions Hospital in St. Paul, home of the well-known Burn Center, which handles the most severe burn cases from the state, said that they are already consulting with bankruptcy experts. Even though we don't live in St. Paul, it's good to know that a world-class facility is in the state. The same is true for rural hospitals and medical providers. Folks in the Twin Cities may not live here, but they visit or pass through here. Medical emergencies happen--and when they do, it's important that medical care is close at hand."

The GAMC work group is slated to meet again in early September, with the aim of getting a plan developed by the end of the year. Because of the state's budget situation, however, financial challenges will continue to cause difficulties for hospitals and health care providers.

"I hope we can find a way to solve this problem on a bipartisan basis," said Senator Skogen. "Not only will vulnerable people lose their coverage, but our hospitals and medical providers will be under even greater stress to provide the services all of us depend on."

In June, Minnesota's unemployment rate reached a 26-year high, with initial claims for Unemployment Insurance up more than 85 percent in the past year. A business survey was also released that showed Minnesota's economy lagging behind our neighboring states.

In light of this troubling news, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Commissioner Dan McElroy has been traveling the state to discuss how the department is spending federal stimulus dollars on businesses and workforce development.  

During their regional meetings, officials from DEED highlighted the need for an "angel investor" tax credit which would provide an incentive for investors willing to put money into start-up companies in emerging and high-tech industries.  

An "angel investor" is usually an individual or a group of individuals who provide funds for business start-ups in exchange for ownership equity or debt that can be converted into stock. Other states in the region have already passed an angel investor tax credit.   In May, a University of Minnesota spin-off biotech company announced tentative plans to move to Wisconsin, specifically citing the state's angel investor tax credit as reason for the transition.

"The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is helpful as a stopgap measure to keep people employed and to address some infrastructure needs, but our state's economy needs long-term solutions," said Senator Dan Skogen. "Minnesota is no longer a leader in economic growth and worker prosperity. We need solutions for fixing our economy and growing jobs. Tax incentives for investments in new Minnesota start-ups will help accomplish that."

In both 2007 and 2009, the Minnesota Legislature passed an angel investor tax credit provision only to see the measure get caught up in budget negotiations and was ultimately vetoed by the governor. The bill vetoed in 2009 contained a total of $247 million in business and job-growing incentives, which included an upfront sales tax exemption on capital equipment, and a separate tax credit that would have generated even greater private investment in Minnesota small businesses.

"In order to keep our state competitive, we need to be attracting and retaining companies that will build jobs for the long haul. Energy, medical technology, biosciences, and biofuels are examples," said Senator Skogen. "This is a measure that is too important for the state's economic growth for it to fall to political gamesmanship."

"It is important for the Senate, House and governor to work together to pass job-creating legislation," said Senator Skogen. "We need solutions--and incentives like this are one of the solutions."

For more information, contact Senator Skogen's office at 651-296-5655 or sen.dan.skogen@senate.mn

The League of Minnesota Cities has named state Senator Dan Skogen, DFL-Hewitt, a 2009 Legislator of Distinction.

The award is given out annually by the League, which represents 800 cities across Minnesota. "Our members recognize that in order to be successful in serving our common constituents, state and city officials must work together as partners to reach solutions that meet the unique needs of rural, suburban, and urban main streets across the state," the League wrote in the award announcement.

In addition to his ongoing support for local property tax relief and funding for public-safety services, League officials specifically noted Senator Skogen's work in securing passage of a League-sponsored administrative traffic citations provision.

"I'm proud to have the support of the League of Minnesota Cities," said Sen. Skogen. "This is an organization that fights to protect our state's quality of life by keeping our property taxes low and our streets safe. I believe the state needs to be a partner with our local units of government, which actually deliver the services and amenities citizens rely on."  

The League of Minnesota Cities is a membership organization dedicated to promoting excellence in local government. The League serves its member cities through advocacy, education and training, policy development, risk management, and other services.

For more information, contact Senator Skogen's office at 651-296-5655 or sen.dan.skogen@senate.mn

A new report shows Minnesota's economy--which had been showing signs of stabilizing in recent months--took a step backwards in June, as employers shed 16,700 jobs in the month. These new job losses sparked another jump in the state's unemployment rate, which grew to a seasonally adjusted 8.4 percent in June, up from 4.5 percent one year ago.

"It's clear that our recovery out of this economic recession will be slow and difficult," said Senator Dan Skogen, DFL-Hewitt.  "In the past 12 months, the state's unemployment rate has nearly doubled. Even as we start to see businesses regaining profitability, it could be some time before we see companies adding a substantial number of new employees. For most Minnesotans, the recession is still very real and very painful."

During June, statewide initial claims for Unemployment Insurance totaled 40,405, an 85.4 percent increase from 12 months ago. Most of the increase was in manufacturing, up 136.9 percent from last year to 10,031 claims.   Construction also saw large numeric growth over the year, up 55.8 percent to 5,740 claims. All other industries saw increases of 40 percent or more.

"The Unemployment Insurance system is an important safety net for families impacted by this global economic slowdown," said Senator Skogen.  "This session, I was proud to support legislation to provide unemployment benefits to even more Minnesotans during this difficult time. The Legislature also made substantial investments in workforce-training and reemployment-assistance programs designed to get displaced workers back on the job."

In addition to providing support to laid-off workers, Senator Skogen said lawmakers have been focused on bringing long-term, sustainable growth to the state's economy. Senator Skogen noted that recent cuts to the state's higher education system could have a lasting impact on the state. Since 2003, students have seen a 32 percent increase in tuition at Minnesota's four-year state universities.

"According to Minnesota State Economist Tom Stinson, Minnesota's historical competitive advantage had been in productivity, and our future success depends on making smart investments in education, worker training, and research and development," said Senator Skogen. "In our increasingly tech-driven economy, our state's economic success will depend on a well-educated and properly-trained workforce. Unfortunately, recent budget cuts have made higher education less accessible for Minnesota families. This is a trend that needs to be reversed if we hope to keep Minnesota competitive in the 21st Century."

For more information, contact Senator Skogen at (651) 296-5655 or sen.dan.skogen@senate.mn

Thanks to a program established by the Legislature in 2008, businesses which suffer substantial economic injury as a result of an essential employee or owner being called to military service may be eligible for an interest-free loan through the Department of Employment and Economic Development.

The Minnesota Military Reservist Economic Injury Loan Program provides loans to eligible small businesses which 1) have an essential employee or employees about to deploy or deployed in the military reserves for 180 days or longer, and 2) are likely to sustain or are sustaining economic harm. The four-and-a-half year one-time loans are interest-free and are available in amounts from $5,000 to $20,000. No repayment is required for the first 18 months of the loan; monthly repayments are made over the remaining three years of the loan term.

"Citizen-soldiers are an important part of our nation's military, and our economy," said Senator Dan Skogen, DFL-Hewitt.  "These brave men and women bring considerable skills to the workplace, but when they're called to service, a business can experience significant costs in trying to find a replacement during their absence. The Military Reservist Economic Injury Loan Program offers a helping hand to these businesses by giving them a bridge loan to get them through a difficult time."

A business must meet the following criteria to be eligible for a loan:

• Be a for-profit business entity which is not an affiliate or subsidiary of a business dominant in its field of operations, and
• have either 20 or fewer full-time employees, or
• have had less than $1 million in annual gross revenue in the preceding fiscal year, or
• if the business is a technical or professional service and has less than $2.5 million in annual gross revenue in the preceding fiscal year.

In addition, the business must be operating in Minnesota on the date that one or more essential employees received orders for active service of 180 days or more and be sustaining or likely to sustain a substantial economic injury. Active service includes state active service, federally funded state active service, and federal active service.

Essential employees are defined as a military reservist who is an owner or employee with managerial or technical expertise critical to the day-to-day operations of the business. The eligible business must be sustaining or likely to sustain economic harm, meaning it cannot or anticipates not being able to: meet its obligations as they mature; pay its ordinary and necessary operating expenses; or manufacture, produce, market or provide a product or service as it has ordinarily done.

A loan application and more information about the program can be found on the Department of Employment and Economic Development's website: http://www.deed.state.mn.us/bizdev/MnMilitaryREILP_Intro.htm. Questions about the program can be directed to Jeff Nelson, Senior Loan Officer at DEED, who can be reached at Jeff.M.Nelson@state.mn.us or 651-259-7523.

Twenty-five year clean water, outdoors and arts legacy
begins this month - 7/8/09

Minnesota begins collecting the first proceeds this month from an additional 3/8ths of one percent sales tax that is constitutionally dedicated over the next 25 years to investments in clean water, wildlife habitat, parks and trails, and arts and cultural projects. The new dedicated funds were approved by Minnesota voters in last year's election. 

"Due to the wide support of Minnesota voters, we can help ensure that our state's environment, outdoor heritage, and cultural resources will be protected and enhanced for future generations," said Senator Dan Skogen, DFL-Hewitt. "This new, dedicated funding will allow us to maintain our high quality of life and hand down to our children a state that preserves our unique outdoor and cultural amenities."

Senator Skogen said that Minnesotans showed strong support for the measure at the polls last year, voting by a margin of 54-46 percent in favor of the dedicated funds. The new revenue adds up to more than $300 million each year, funneled into four categories:

• 33 percent to the Outdoor Heritage Fund to be used to protect prairies, forests, and wetlands; as well as fish, game, and wildlife habitat;
• 33 percent to the Clean Water Fund to be used for identifying and cleaning up polluted state waters;
• 14.25 percent to the Parks and Trails Fund to be used for parks and trails needs and priorities, including improved visitor services, facility maintenance, and connecting Minnesotans to the outdoors; and
• 19.75 percent to the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund to enhance a variety of arts and cultural resources, including the performing arts, historical projects, science and children's museums, and the state's zoos.

During the 2009 Legislative Session, lawmakers passed legislation directing how the money raised by the amendment will be spent during the upcoming biennium. According to Senator Skogen, not only will the projects funded by the Legacy Amendment serve to enhance Minnesota's quality of life, they will also provide needed economic development in every region of the state.

"Minnesota's economy has long-benefited from the state's high quality of life, and the Legacy Amendment will ensure we retain that competitive advantage for decades to come," said Senator Skogen.  "In addition, as soon as we start making these investments, we will start seeing more and more Minnesotans going back to work on critical infrastructure and environmental-protection projects."

Senator Skogen said websites will be posted at a future date that will allow Minnesotans to gain information and track how investments from the four funds are being utilized. In the meantime, citizens who are interested in the Outdoor Heritage Fund may contact the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council at www.lohc.state.mn.us, and citizens who have ideas or questions about arts projects may contact the Minnesota State Arts Board, at www.arts.state.mn.us.