ST. PAUL (AP) — Voters can decide in November whether they want any of three proposals approved by the Legislature to go on the state’s constitution.
Ballot questions on hunting and fishing protections, the Environmental Trust Fund and abolishing the state treasurer’s office were passed in the final days of the session.
If voters approve a hunting and fishing amendment, Minnesota would be one of only five states with some sort of guarantee that lawmakers couldn’t impose permanent bans on the taking of game and fish.
Exceptions would be made for treaty issues and to ensure the survival of certain species.
The amendment would read: “Hunting, fishing and the taking of game and fish are a valued part of our heritage that shall be forever preserved for the people and shall be managed by law and regulation for the public good.”
House and Senate negotiators couldn’t agree on whether to call the guarantee a “right” or a “privilege” so the question was written without either word.
“If we can get the hunters off the trails and the anglers off the lakes to vote, then it will pass,” said Sen. Bob Lessard, DFL-International Falls and the bill’s sponsor.
Even some longtime opponents to the ballot question said they supported it after it was reworded to sound more environmentally friendly. That also could help another ballot question, which would extend dedication of 40 percent of State Lottery funds to the Environmental Trust Fund through 2025.
The fund directive was set to expire in the year 2000. It has been used for projects including the purchase and rehabilitation of a state park for $1 million and a plant database for $130,000.
The fund has been popular over the years and lawmakers expect it will pass again.
The third item would abolish the state treasurer’s office in 2003. Since the early 1970s, the office has lost most of its duties to the state auditor and the finance and commerce departments.
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Mindy Greiling, DFL-Roseville, said the treasurer now functions mostly as a bookkeeper and most voters don’t know who the treasurer is. In fact, in the 1980s, a state treasurer moved to Florida while still holding office.
“The chances are better than 50/50 because the public is kind of anti-government,” Greiling said. Transferring the duties would save between $150,000 to $1 million a year.
Still, some lawmakers fear getting rid of elected officials is the wrong way to shrink big government. And lawmakers couldn’t agree where to transfer the remaining duties. If voters get rid of the office, the state will study the issue.
Between now and the Nov. 3 election, all three measures will be the focus of campaigns.
A well-informed electorate is crucial to the success of amendments. If a voter chooses not to vote on a constitutional amendment, that ballot counts as a vote against the proposal.
Legistative proposals require three changes to state constitution to change state constitution
Published April 13, 1998
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