While Minnesota’s leaders struggle to reach a budget solution, we must continue to let our legislators and the governor know that the budget must be fair and balanced — and protect the things Minnesotans value, including our Great Outdoors.

Earlier in the 2011 regular session, our legislators supported many provisions that threatened Minnesota’s land, air and water. Specifically, the environmental budget bill passed by the legislature made dramatic cuts to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Department of Natural Resources that would have undercut our state support for our outdoors and health, including: (more…)

Written by Ben Hellerstein, Sierra Club Legislative Intern

Concerned park-goers gather at the Rally for our State Parks hosted by the Sierra Club and environmental partner groups

We’re well into the second week of the Minnesota state government shutdown. Closing down many of the functions of state government for a few weeks might seem like a great way to save money, especially since budget negotiators still need to close a several-billion-dollar gap between state spending and revenues for the next biennium. In reality, the shutdown will cost the state tens of millions of dollars in additional expenses and lost revenues, like the $52 million a month that the laid-off tax auditors in the Department of Revenue would ordinarily bring in. (more…)

With less than four days to go until the current Minnesota budget expires, a state government shutdown is looking more and more likely. If Governor Dayton and the legislature fail to reach an agreement on spending by the end of the day on June 30, most state agencies will find themselves without the statutory authority to continue operating. A shutdown would severely limit the availability of many basic services, like education and health care, that Minnesotans rely on. (more…)

2011 Regular Session Ends in a Draw

Disturbing Trend for Special Exemptions Threatens Minnesota’s Great Outdoors

While we wait for a Special Session to resolve Minnesota’s budget crisis, it is time to take stock of what happened and what didn’t happen to Protect Minnesota’s Great Outdoors in the 2011 Regular Session.

Heading into the regular session, we knew we would have to play defense.  However, none of us fathomed how much of our energy would be expended to stop bad bills that threaten Minnesota’s lakes, rivers and streams, natural areas, wildlife habitat and Clean Energy Future. (more…)

June 3, 2011

How is your summer going so far? Warm enough for you?

How would you like to spend part—if not all—of your summer at the State Capitol trying to balance the budget! (more…)

May 27, 2011

“It ain’t over till it’s over,” said New York Yankee great Yogi Berra.

That’s the way a lot of lobbyists, advocates, agency staff, and legislators felt when the 2011 legislative session came to an end at midnight on May 23. Five months of action and drama, but still no budget and deficit resolve. “Extra innings,” Yogi would say! (more…)

May 20, 2011

What are you doing this weekend?

I will be spending some quality time at the State Capitol as we continue to work with the 201 legislators on legislation of major importance to Minnesotans and to our environment and conservation traditions and values. (more…)

Twin Cities Metro Transit would be cut $109.44 million and transit in greater Minnesota cut $7.62 million under the transportation finance bill that is likely to go to Governor Dayton tomorrow. According to the Metropolitan Council, which oversees Metro Transit, the cuts would mean a 50 cent fare increase and 22 percent service cut – a devastating outcome that they estimate would mean a loss of 22 million transit rides a year and pink slips for 450 transit employees. (more…)

May 13, 2011

I am writing this update on Friday afternoon in advance of a long evening back at the Capitol as the House and Senate confer the environment budget bill. The House version is HF1010 and the Senate version is SF1029. The two sides have met a number of times in the last week and are expected to reach final agreement yet tonight (Friday). (more…)

May 6, 2011

I am writing this update on Friday morning in advance of a long afternoon and evening sitting and watching the House and Senate confer the Environment Budget Bill. The House version is HF1010 and the Senate version is SF1029. The two sides met once about a week ago and will meet again to try to agree on dollars and policy issues.

There are two full weeks left in the 2011 legislative session! On May 23 at midnight they have to adjourn to a date certain in 2012—probably in February. It appears that a special session in June will be necessary in order to reach any agreements in terms of dealing with a $5 billion budget shortfall and how to fund state government for the next two years. (more…)