Dennis Anderson: Out of sight, definitely not out of mind

The politics of conservation, which were hot in the final moments of the last legislative session, are now, in late summer, on the back burner. A bridge collapses, rivers overflow, and the media spotlight, ever searching, shifts. Left in the dark for the moment, among other topics, are the state's polluted lakes and rivers, its lost uplands and the dissection and sale of its northern forests.

Still, behind the scenes, much is happening, including maneuvering by parties who would benefit should the state's hottest conservation topic, dedicating funding, finally become a reality.

As envisioned by bills awaiting votes on the House and Senate floors, dedicated funding would amount to about $300 million annually. The money would be earmarked for fish and wildlife habitat ($100 million), clean water ($100 milllion) and parks, trails and the arts ($100 million).

The funds would be raised by increasing the state sales tax three-eighths of 1 percent.

Final approval of the measures is expected shortly after the Legislature convenes in February, House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher and Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller indicated at the end of the last session.

Assuming passage (if not in February, then at some point in the session), the proposal will be on the statewide ballot in November 2008 in the form of a constitutional amendment.

A majority of all who vote is necessary for passage. Ballots on which the dedicated funding plan are left unchecked will be counted as votes against.

Return now to the behind-the-scenes maneuvering mentioned at the outset.

Meeting Tuesday in St. Paul, a coalition of conservation-group representatives agreed to formulate a legislative plan that would establish a citizen-legislator commission to oversee the approximately $100 million in dedicated funding that would purchase, enhance and conserve fish and wildlife habitat.

As envisioned by some, the proposed panel would operate much like the recently revised Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources. That group oversees distribution of lottery funds, and its new makeup -- with its addition of citizens to what had been solely a legislative group -- is intended to cut pork and politics from its distributions, thereby increasing conservation efficiencies.

Hunters and anglers are the backbone of the dedicated funding idea. If the proposal passes muster with voters in 2008, it will be primarily because sportsmen, sportswomen and their sympathizers carry the day.

But hunters and anglers' wholehearted support of the dedicated funding proposal will require assurance that their money will be spent as promised, namely to purchase, enhance and/or conserve fish and wildlife habitat.

That mission statement cuts a wide swath and will include widely varied on-the-ground projects, each of which should also benefit the interests, broadly defined, of hunters and anglers.

Such a caveat would specifically exclude some conservation proposals -- for example, the purchase of park lands with these funds.

Beyond such easy calls, however, how best to distribute the money will be vigorously debated every year. To ensure that fish and wildlife (game as well as nongame) benefit optimally; that hunters and anglers and their interests are served; and that these funds are distributed according to a well-conceived statewide conservation plan, an oversight council consisting of citizens and legislators is needed.

Which is why conservation leaders meeting this week decided to develop further the council idea.

Here's hoping such a council is established in statute in the next legislative session, so hunters and anglers going to the polls in November 2008 to vote for dedicated funding can do so assured they -- and fish and wildlife -- don't get ripped off.

Given what has happened to lottery funds over the years, millions of which have been diverted from programs benefiting the environment, their paranoia is justified.

Kelliher, Pogemiller and their legislative colleagues should do the right thing next session by approving at last the constitutional amendment proposal, and by forming in law a citizen-legislator committee to govern the expenditure of dedicated funds set aside for fish and wildlife.

Dennis Anderson • danderson@startribune.com