Dennis Anderson: State needs more wetlands, not more spending for arts

House and Senate legislators gathered this week in a rare joint lovefest at the Capitol to show their concern over global warming. Will Steger was there, also Archbishop Harry Flynn. After that, the list of attendees sincere in their interest about the environment trailed off significantly, particularly among the elected glad-handers in the audience.

Among many ironies playing themselves out, some legislators who boldly pronounced themselves against an increase in mean air and water temperatures also continued this week to foist on the public the preposterous notion that the state's lakes, rivers, uplands and forests haven't been ruined quite enough yet to warrant an infusion of cash in the form of dedicated conservation funding.

Particularly hilarious are the posturings of DFL metro bigwigs who insist again this year they won't lift a finger to clean the state's lands and waters unless they also can dedicate in the state constitution millions of dollars for the arts and public radio and TV, among other bottom-feeding lottery hopefuls.

Directing this proposed heist of taxpayer money are Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller, DFL-Minneapolis, Sen. Ellen Anderson, DFL-St. Paul, and Sen. Dick Cohen, DFL-St. Paul. The House Speaker, Rep Margaret Anderson Kelliher, is also a sympathizer.

It's not as if this Gang of Four is lacking for environmental problems to address in their own backyards. Their constituents, in fact, might want to peek at the accompanying map of Hennepin and Ramsey counties.

All the little bold splotches? Each is a lake, and each is polluted -- most with mercury and excess nutrients.

This isn't a complete list, of course. Many more lakes in Hennepin and Ramsey counties likely are soiled. And many, many more statewide. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) simply hasn't had the money to test all state rivers and lakes.

In fact, perhaps this summer, readers could aid in this effort by having their kids swim in neighborhood lakes.

If little Jimmy or Mary turns green, or perhaps day-glow orange, they could ring the Capitol at 1-651-WE-DON'T-CARE to report their findings. Or, toll-free, 1-800-OUR-ART-WITH-YOUR-MONEY.

Perhaps they'll even be connected to Pogemiller's voice mail. Or Anderson's. Or Cohen's. Or Anderson Kelliher's.

For nine years, Minnesota conservationists have trod to the Legislature to speak in behalf of clean water and healthy lands -- and the fish, wildlife and people they support.

Clean water and healthy lands are what our parents and grandparents enjoyed in Minnesota, and what our children and grandchildren have a right to inherit.

In the early years of this campaign to restore Minnesota to the state it once was, indifference was the biggest obstacle conservationists had to overcome.

Legislators had cow-towed to farm and development interests so long, the notion of supporting the state's broader landscape and natural heritage concerns could gain no traction.

Then, more recently, the paintbrush and MPR crowd saw a horse leaving the legislative barn it perhaps could ride to a pay window.

So, saddle up they did.

Now some environmental groups think it might be better to conspire with the arts crowd to get some kind of dedicated-funding bill passed this session, rather than buck the Gang of Four and risk coming up empty -- again.

But here's some news.

If a dedicated-funding bill is approved this session that proposes to imbed in the constitution anything more than nominal funding for easels and berets, it will fail in a statewide vote.

To make sure it does, I -- and a bunch of others -- will pedal our bikes between Warroad and Worthington to tell every Minnesota angler, hunter and taxpayer we meet to "vote no" on the proposed constitutional amendment/taxpayer ripoff.

As well they should.

Minnesota is, after all -- as others have cryptically noted -- running out of wetlands.

Not artwork.

Meanwhile, the Gang of Four might want to think globally, as they did this week when meeting to bone up on global warming -- but act locally.

They can begin by cleaning up the murky backwaters in their districts formerly known as lakes.

For a list, see the map.