Posted: 5/12/06
Hackbarth proposal get positive response
By T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol Reporter
A two-pronged offer by House conferees drew thanks and smiles from Senate sales tax dedication negotiators Thursday night (May 11).
Rep. Tom Hackbarth, R-Cedar, House Environment and Natural Resources Committee chairman, proposed solving a vexing tax policy question by placing two separate constitutional amendments on the ballot in November.
Hackbarth proposed placing a one-eighth of one percent sales tax dedication for fish and wildlife ó about $90 million a year ó using existing state sales tax on the ballot.
Additionally, Hackbarth, House conference committee chairman, proposed placing a second amendment on the ballot ó one raising the sales tax one-eighth of one percent ó dedicating 80 percent to clean water and the rest to parks and trails, the arts, public broadcasting.
ìPolitics is the art of compromise,î said Hackbarth, who has vowed not to bring a constitutional amendment containing a tax increase back to the House.
It wasnít an easy to propose one, Hackbarth explained.
But he didnít think any constitutional amendment would make it before voters had he stuck to his no tax increase position.
ìI didnít want to see that happen,î Hackbarth said of the whole initiative crashing.
ìThis is the year to do this,î he said.
Sen. Dallas Sams, DFL-Staples, Senate sales tax dedication bill author and Senate conference committee chairman, expressed optimism at the close of the 45-minute negotiation session.
ìIt looks like weíre going to be able to put something together,î he said.
Senate conferees will consider the proposal, said Sams.
Sams, who now holds the conference committee gavel, is expected to call another conference committee meeting on Monday (May 15).
The Senate came to conference committee with a dedication bill proposing a three-eighths of one percent sales tax increase ó about $277 million a year ó that divvied up dedication revenue between an outdoor heritage fund, clean water, parks and trails, arts and public broadcasting.
Hackbarthís original bill was a three-sixteenth of one percent existing sales tax dedication ó about $138 million a year ó that roughly reflected Senateís dedications.
Senate conferees did raise questions about Hackbarthís pronged approach.
Sen. Dick Cohen, DFL-St. Paul, wondered whether placing two amendments on the ballot might spark court challenges.
ìIt seems to me itís not a risk weíd want to take,î said Cohen.
Hackbarth countered by arguing that compressing all the various dedications into one constitutional amendment could also invite a legal challenge.
Rep. Chris DeLaForest, R-Andover, House conferee, added the Legislature shouldnít dwell on what the courts might do, but rather fulfill its role as a separate branch of government.
But overall, Senate conferees were positive.
Sen. Dennis Frederickson, R-New Ulm, called the House proposal ìvery encouraging.î
Sen. Tom Saxhaug, DFL-Grand Rapids, also expressed approval of the Houseís offer.
As currently proposed, the hunting and fishing sales tax dedication constitutional amendment, if approved by voters, would begin on July 1, 2009.
Although the proposed amendment for clean water, parks and trails, the arts and public broadcasting was also proposed to begin in 2009, Hackbarth agreed to change the date to 2007 as one Senate conferee suggested.
Hackbarth argues the two constitutional amendments are separate and independent.
They could both pass. The could both fail.
One might succeed with voters, the other not.
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