With just nine days until election day, supporters and opponents of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment are making final efforts to sway voters.
"It's gone from a marathon to a sprint to the finish line," said Ken Martin, campaign director of Vote Yes Minnesota.
Last week, the Vote Yes campaign traveled to 17 cities in three days. And this week, former Vikings coach Bud Grant and conservation group leaders will hold rallies in support of the constitutional amendment in St. Paul and seven other cities.
Meanwhile, opponents have launched their first TV ad, which warns Minnesotans not to be "fooled" by claims that the state's waters aren't safe for fishing and swimming. Supporters have been airing TV ads for several weeks focusing on the state's polluted waters.
Voters will see more TV, radio and mail advertising from both sides in coming days.
Vote Yes Minnesota -- a coalition of 350 groups, including conservation, hunting, environmental and arts groups -- is spending nearly $5 million in its campaign. Groups like the Nature Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever and the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association have urged their members to support the amendment.
Phil Krinkie, president of the Taxpayers League of Minnesota, which opposes the amendment, has said his group likely will spend less than $500,000. The TV ad will have a limited run on cable TV stations in the Twin Cities. The group has been distributing "Vote No" signs at Republican offices around the state, which has drawn the ire of some Republican supporters of the amendment.
The amendment would increase the state sales tax by three-eighths of 1 percent, raising about $270 million annually for 25 years. Thirty-three percent would be used to develop and improve fish and wildlife habitat, and a citizens-legislative council would oversee spending; another 33 percent would clean up Minnesota's lakes and rivers. Arts and cultural projects would get 19.75 percent, and parks and trails would get 14.25 percent.
Supporters have been pushing for dedicated funding for natural resources for 10 years, arguing that the Legislature never properly funds natural resources. Less than 2 percent of the general fund goes toward natural resources, they argue. Opponents object to a tax increase and to using the state constitution to dedicate funding, and argue the funding isn't necessary.
"Our position is this isn't the way to allocate funds, and secondly, with the challenging economic times, this is not when you throw people another tax increase," Krinkie said.
Martin said he remains optimistic the measure will pass. "If we lose, it won't be for lack of effort," he said. Those who vote in the Nov. 4 election but don't cast a vote for or against the amendment will be counted as a no vote, making passage more difficult.
"The big challenge is the 'drop-off' vote; that's our No. 1 concern," Martin said.
Krinkie said he hopes the drop-off vote is a factor. He predicts the measure will fail by a 55-45 percent margin. Martin put it another way: "I would give it a 60-40 chance of passing."
Martin said opponents haven't offered alternatives on how to pay to clean up the state's impaired waters to meet federal Clean Water Act requirements -- something state officials have estimated could cost $800 million. And with the state likely facing a huge deficit, it's unlikely money will be forthcoming for natural resources, he said.
"Waters will get dirtier, fish, game and wildlife habitat will continue to disappear," Martin said.
For more information from both sides, see www.yesformn.org or www.nosalestax-increase.org.
Ron Schara's "Minnesota Bound" will broadcast a half-hour special Sunday on KARE-TV (Ch. 11) on the amendment. The show also will be broadcast next weekend in Rochester, Fargo, Mankato and Duluth.
Did you know? • Duck hunting has been slow, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources weekly waterfowl report. (See Related Content.) Aerial waterfowl surveys generally counted fewer ducks than the previous week, particularly in northern and central Minnesota.
Many of the early season migrants have departed and migrant ducks haven't moved into the state in large numbers.
• The DNR is urging the state's nearly 500,000 deer hunters to buy their licenses early to avoid long lines and any problems associated with the high sales volume. The regular firearms deer season begins Nov. 8.
• The winner of Minnesota's first-ever Walleye Stamp Contest will be named on Thursday. Anglers won't be required to buy the $5 stamp in 2009, but money raised will go to walleye stocking and related activities.
• Five deer hunters have been hurt so far this fall due to accidents involving tree stands, and DNR officials say that underscores the need to follow safety rules.
Doug Smith • dsmith@startribune.com
