April 17, 2009: Legislative Report #53

Five More Bills Today

On Friday April 17, 2009 our elected leadership introduced another group of bills on page 2,756, bringing Minnesota legislature to 2,328 bills for the year. One bill introduced is HF 2327, introduced by Alice Hausman (DFL) District: 66B, which appropriates funds from the constitutional amendment passed last year. The bill provides $4,000,000.00 in new tax revenue from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund established by the constitutional amendment to Minnesota Public Radio. HF 2327 directs Minnesota Public Radio to spend the $4,000,000.00 “…for new regional and national programming…” Now some may call me nit picking, but I pose this question. How many Minnesotans voted for the constitutional amendment expecting Minnesota Public Radio to collect more funds to promote regional and national programming?  

I see no connection between Arts and Cultural Heritage and Minnesota Public radio national programming. I question the wisdom of Alice Hausman for introducing HF 2327.