On Friday, the Minnesota Senate passed a $240M Legacy Omnibus Bill to meet the Legacy Amendment’s promise to support clean water, habitat protection, and parks and trails. However, the bill fails to provide oversight for $12.2M taxpayer dollars being allocated to unaccountable ‘arts programs.’
Senate Republicans supported the adoption of an amendment to use the Arts and Cultural Heritage fund to provide funding for a program commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War and the contributions of those who served our country.
Resources and information are available to Vietnam veterans which can be found here.
“I’m glad to see we’re finally giving a proper thank you to over 100,000 Vietnam veterans in Minnesota. When they first came home, they weren’t treated the way they deserved,” Sen. Justin Eichorn (R-Grand Rapids) said. “This is our way to make things right and show our gratitude for their service.”
“Yet, this bill provides little to no accountability for the millions of dollars being allocated to questionable art projects. When voters approved the Legacy Amendment in 2008, they expected their money to be focused on protecting Minnesota’s resources,” Eichorn concluded.
Democrats rejected amendments to provide increased oversight for taxpayer-funded projects, which included:
- Requiring non-governmental organizations to provide a 50% non-state or federal match to ensure the allocated funds are being utilized in a fiscally sound, transparent manner.
- Prohibiting state funds from being used to promote criminal or terroristic activities, including anti-Semitic and Hamas-related activities.
- Increasing the Legislature’s control in allocating Legacy funds to focus on critical needs such as clean water and crumbling roads.
LEGACY AMENDMENT BACKGROUND
In 2008, Minnesota’s voters passed the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment (Legacy Amendment) to the Minnesota Constitution aimed at protecting drinking water sources; protecting, enhancing, and restoring wetlands, prairies, forests, and fish, game, and wildlife habitat; to preserve arts and cultural heritage; to support parks and trails; and to protect, enhance, and restore lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater.
The Legacy Amendment increased the state sales tax by three-eighths of one percent beginning on July 1, 2009 and continuing until 2034. The additional sales tax revenue is distributed into four funds as follows: 33 percent to the Clean Water Fund (CWF); 33 percent to the Outdoor Heritage Fund (OHF); 19.75 percent to the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund; and 14.25 percent to the Parks and Trails Fund (PAT).