Arts making a play for dedicated funding/several bills are being proposed for de

[Bufflehead]

 As many of you are aware of, the long ongoing fight by sportsman groups to get dedicated funding passed has been shot down in the past

 With events like the two Duck Rally's at the State Capital and numerous other events. The many hours spent by many, many Volunteers calling and e-mailing our elected has yet to yield a passage. It's been a tough sell to get passed

 Well the Arts which has been tagged on to passing of this bill is wanting it's share, are making it's play

 


From the Pioneer Press:

Study touts economic impact of arts
Advocates hope to make case for restoring, adding funding
BY JASON HOPPIN
Pioneer Press
The local arts scene pumps $310 million into St. Paul's economy annually and a slightly larger amount into the Minneapolis economy, according to a study to be announced today.

The arts also account for nearly 17,000 jobs in the Twin Cities, the study concludes.

The advocacy group Minnesota Citizens for the Arts initially commissioned the study to urge state lawmakers to restore arts funding that was cut during the state's fiscal crisis a few years ago.

But it also could prove a boon to efforts to pass a statewide sales tax dedicated to arts and outdoor activities, as well as future state funding requests for local arts projects, such as the renovation of the Ordway Center in St. Paul.

The findings are to be announced at a joint news conference attended by St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak.

"The arts and cultural assets are the soul of our city," Coleman said. "It is no surprise to see that these kinds of investments are a critical part of our economy."

With an expected $2.2 billion state budget surplus in coming years, arts advocates are hoping the study pushes lawmakers to commit an extra $11 million to state and regional arts groups, which hand out grants throughout the state, said Sheila Smith, executive director of Minnesota Citizens for the Arts.

"There were some decision-makers who wanted economic data," Smith said. "We needed to speak their language."

But the study likely sells short the benefits of the local arts economy. Smith said the data examined the budgets of nonprofit arts groups and spending by arts patrons but did not take into account the contributions of individual, or self-employed, artists.

The data were compiled in 2004 and 2005 and analyzed by the Georgia Institute of Technology. The study was funded largely by the McKnight Foundation.

A broader study by the same group was completed last year. It concluded that arts accounted for $838 million of the state's economy. The new data show the vast majority of that money benefits the Twin Cities.

The Arts and Culture Partnership of St. Paul and Minneapolis' Community Planning and Economic Development/ Planning Division sponsored the second phase of the study focusing on Minneapolis and St. Paul.

"It certainly shows that arts and cultural activities are a significant part of what makes Minnesota a successful state," said Sen. Dick Cohen, DFLSt. Paul. The report helps the case that Minnesota should encourage the arts to prosper, he said.

Cohen, known at the Capitol as a key advocate for the arts, has been a leading backer of a constitutional amendment to dedicate a portion of the state's sales tax revenue to the arts and other leisure activities.

Voters would have to approve such a measure.

Rachel Stassen-Berger contributed to this report.

Jason Hoppin can be reached at jhoppin@pioneerpress.com or 651-292-1892.

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To quote someone involved in the sportsmans side of the fight

"“It concluded that arts accounted for $838 million of the state's economy. The new data show the vast majority of that money [benefits the Twin Cities.”]

ATV’s in Minnesota have greater economic impact then the Arts $1 billion, and the 14,000 jobs are dispersed though-out the state.

The new Bass Pro Shop’s addition alone at the MOA is $1 billion dollars.

Again Humanities do not increase they decrease our chances at the ballot.

 I agree on the economic impact of wildlife-related activities that case will increasingly be made. Actually the other group that needs to know that is sportsmen.

The economic impact of sportsmen was made at the DNR roundtable, watch for that argument to increasingly be made.

There are other versions over at the capitol coming out, I believe maybe 6 different versions in a week or so.

Senators Chaudhary, Pogemiller, Stumpf, Skogen and Saxhaug introduced--
S.F. No. 20: A bill for an act relating to natural resources; proposing an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution, article XI; increasing the sales tax rate by one-fourth of one percent and dedicating the receipts for natural resource purposes; creating a heritage enhancement fund; creating a parks and trails fund; creating a clean water legacy fund; establishing a Heritage Enhancement Council; amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, sections 10A.01, subdivision 35; 297A.62, subdivision 1; 297A.94; 297B.02, subdivision 1; Laws 2006, chapter 251, section 9; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 85; 97A. Referred to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.


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Pogemiller co-sponsored SF0020? Looks like he is the chief author of SF0006 - Which clearly includes the Arts and the kitchen sink... which is he backing? I see it too has been passed on to the Natural Resources Committee.

http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/revisor/pages/search_status/status_detail.php?b=Senate&f=SF0006&ssn=0&y=2007

Short Description:

Constitutional amendment for sales tax dedication to natural and cultural resources purposes; arts, humanities, museum and public broadcasting, heritage enhancement, parks and trails and clean water funds and heritage enhancement council.

Long Description:

Bill Name: SF0006

Relating to natural and cultural resources; proposing an amendment to the
Minnesota constitution, article XI to dedicate a certain percentage of sales and
use tax receipts for the improvement, enhancement or protection of fish and
wildlife habitat and tourism, for parks, trails and zoos, for protection and
restoration of water resources and for arts, humanities, museum and public
broadcasting; creating the arts, humanities, museum and public broadcasting
fund, the heritage enhancement, the parks and trails fund and the clean water
fund to be used as a supplement to traditional funding for natural resources
purposes, requiring land acquired with money deposited in the heritage
enhancement fund to be open to public taking of fish and game during the open
season; establishing the parks and trails fund, specifying expenditures;
establishing the heritage enhancement fund and council, specifying council
membership, duties and administration requirements, including members of the
council in the definition of public official for ethics purposes; establishing
the clean water fund and council, specifying expenditures, council membership
and administration requirements and duties, requiring a biennial report to the
legislature; establishing the arts, humanities, museum and public broadcasting
fund, specifying expenditures
(ra)

[JohnWester]

the arts can kiss my @#&^%

[Bufflehead]

 I'm with ya all the way BFG

 There are some of the elected who never leave pavement land and they want as much money as possible to stay within the cities(Arts). Hunting, Fishing and other outdoor activities mean nothing to them "but" any chance of passage of a bill for dedicated funding for the outdoors is being hold hostage by those same "Arts" lovers.

 I would bet, the Arts get attached and the bill passes....Not fair at all! or wanted

 Too bad the wants of a few outways the needs of so many

[Bufflehead]

 More good points being made about the Arts leeching on our dedicated funding for the outdoors

"If an environmental / economic impact study is done, it would be very beneficial for some of the money to be spent getting the results into the general public's hands. Especially the hands of the urban populations who do not have a clue about the negative impact the state's resources are experiencing from inadequate funding.

Any study/survey model will need to show both the environmental and economic impacts that new dedicated funding can and will have on our states resources. AND IT CAN'T JUST BE PUBLISHED ON THE BACK PAGE OF THE SPORTS SECTION, IT HAS TO BE IN THE BUSINESS SECTION FOR ITS ECONOMIC IMPACT. Or, on the front page of the Sunday paper.

There also needs to be a delineation between Arts funding and Environmental funding. A clear case needs to be published in the papers that says, "Hey, we're not for or against Arts funding. Some of us are for Arts funding some of us are against Arts funding, but all of us are against the Arts Lobby trying to attach their issue to our issue. Spend your own money and go after your own funding. Maybe some of us will support your cause then. But right now, none of us will support your cause as long as you try to attach yourselves to our bill, which we have worked long and hard on."

I think there are a lot of people in the Metro area that support the Arts that if presented with our point of view would say, "Yeah, I support the Arts, but you know what, these guys are right. The Arts lobbyists need to draft their own funding legislation." I just don't think they are informed on this issue because it is only talked about in the Outdoors sections of the papers.

I think Gary Leaf's organization is doing a great job of attacking the Arts Lobbyists and making them look like the leaches that they are. I also think a distinction needs to be drawn between those blood sucking lobbyists and the "urban/metro" public who might (and probably would) support both causes as separate issues on their own merits. I know a lot of people who annually donate money to the Arts in Minneapolis and St. Paul. I know all of these people would not have a problem supporting dedicated funding for the outdoors as a stand alone bill, if they were better informed as to the environmental needs and the economic impacts of either funding or not funding this issue. "

[Iceberg]

Thanks for posting this Bufflehead, after the protests in Willmar and me giving up a lot of duck hunting to do my part to defeat Johnson, I have been hiding from politics. namely I've been fishing and Hunting in Montana, I believe you saw my trout pics... and now that the ice here in the cities is thick enough to put out the fishhouse,  That is where I will be. in the background for a while

 
To get more involved, here is an event to attend!

Second Annual Wetlands Summit
Normandale Community College
Bloomington, Minnesota
February 3, 2007
8:00 AM to 5:30 PM
THEME: Cultivating a Minnesota Land Ethic

The Wetlands Summit is an outgrowth of the Rally for Ducks, Wetlands and Clean Water. The rally called for holding Wetlands Summits to review current programs and problems, identify corrective measures needed, and to help establish a common ground between the wetland conservation and agricultural communities.

In keeping with this directive, the Summit Organizational Committee advances this revised Mission Statement:

Minnesota’s second Wetlands Summit recognizes the importance of a sustainable land ethic in achieving a sound balance between agricultural programs and the vitality of wetlands, clean water and suitable habitat for fish and wildlife. It also recognizes the probability that profound climate change may irreversibly alter the lands and waters that sustain us all. The 2007 Summit will review accomplishments of the past year, identify common ground for the agricultural and conservation communities, review the scope of the 2007 Farm Bill and provide recommendations, present an overview on climate change and its potential impacts, and encourage individuals and organizations to work collectively to achieve changes desired.

The morning session will provide a summary of accomplishments since the 2006 Summit, ponder whether a conservation based land ethic is achievable, review key issues in the 2007 Farm Bill and provide for open discussion. The luncheon speaker will address climate change and its potential effect on agriculture, fish and wildlife habitat and water quality/quantity. The afternoon session will be devoted to an interactive Farm Bill Forum, and culminate in recommendations for collective and individual action, recognizing that a united front by agricultural and conservation interests is an absolute requirement for success.

The Summit is a cooperative effort sponsored by the Izaak Walton League of America, National Wildlife Federation, The Nature Conservancy, Audubon Minnesota, Minnesota Conservation Federation, Minnesota Waterfowl Association, Ducks Unlimited, Minnesota, Outdoor Heritage Alliance, Fish and Wildlife Legislative Alliance, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, Sierra Club, Land Stewardship Project, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Registration is $25.00 per person, with a reduced fee of $l5.00 for students. The fee includes a continental breakfast, morning and afternoon refreshments and a noon lunch in the College cafeteria. Free parking is available.

Pre-registration is advised. The deadline for pre- registration is January 26, 2007. All interested persons are encouraged to attend. Request a registration form by emailing or go to Summit Announcement & Registration to download the announcement and form. .


The following organizations are participating in this campaign:

    1000 Friends of Minnesota
    Audubon Minnesota
    Izaak Walton League of America--Minnesota Division
    Land Stewardship Project
    Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy
    MNLCV Duck Rally

[Bufflehead]

Thanks alot for posting that great info Iceberg

 I seen them trout pics..WOW! nice fish

 I appreciate any help you can bring to the boards, again thanks

[JohnWester]

the rally cry for this year...  REMEMBER DEAN JOHNSON!!!