Legislative Scorecard:

2004 - A Breach of Fiduciary Responsibility

Clean water and pure air are fundamental to Minnesota’s quality of life. We have a long tradition of taking responsibility for the protection of our resources and the diverse life they support. Minnesota’s elected officials let these values take a back seat to partisan politicking in 2004. While delivering a handful of victories for environmental policy, our elected officials missed opportunities this year to enable critical conservation programs and leverage significant outside matching funds.

The session began with promise as Governor Pawlenty expressed his commitment to clean water and land conservation through vocal support of funding for the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). CREP would protect and restore 100,000 acres of marginal farm land along vulnerable rivers, streams and wetlands. Additionally, $144 million in 22 conservation-related bonding proposals were poised to be funded with bipartisan support through a bonding bill. The conservation community was cautiously optimistic.

As the session wore on, the Legislature was unable to pass a bonding bill and the Governor’s full support for CREP eroded under pressure from outside interests. The partisan tone in St. Paul this year crippled Minnesota’s legislature, rendering it unable to transcend blame and bickering in order to fulfill its fiduciary responsibilities to protect our water, our natural heritage and our way of life. The absence of a bonding bill this year leaves many cornerstone conservation investments unfunded – investments intended to ensure the safety of drinking water facilities, build and improve wastewater treatment plants, control agricultural runoff, clean up landfills, mitigate floods and protect wildlife habitat… all will have to wait until 2005, at the earliest, to secure public financial backing.

 Download full 2004 Legislative Scorecard