Saint Paul, Minn.-Last night, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed the Omnibus Legacy Finance bill. The bill appropriates approximately $107 million from the Outdoor Heritage Fund to pay for various habitat projects statewide. The Outdoor Heritage Fund is one of four Legacy funds approved by the 2008 Constitutional Amendment.
Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL-South Saint Paul) voted against the final passage of the bill and released the following statement:
“This bill should be considered a major disappointment to Minnesotans who voted for the 2008 Legacy Amendment. For a second year in a row, House Republicans voted to exclude Native Americans from receiving Legacy Amendment funds. Additionally, House Republicans voted against an amendment that would encourage diversity, inclusion, and equity in Outdoor Heritage Fund recommendations.
As deer hunter I was deeply disappointed in the failure to fully fund a project, proposed by the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, which would have protected approximately 2,750 acres of forest habitat and restore jack pine, a rare tree species. Although, there are some quality projects in the bill, it fails to make the progress that Minnesotans should expect out of the funds that voters approved eight years ago.”
Rick Hansen is the DFL-Lead on the Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee.
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