Legislative Scorecard:

2006 - The Year of the Environment?

After the partisan gridlock and government shutdown of 2005, 2006 was a breath of fresh air. The Minnesota Legislature converted bipartisan political will into several important victories for conservation and the environment and they nearly produced a vital environmental funding mechanism.

Have we reached a tipping point where the conservation of our water and land is finally being widely recognized as vital to our economy, our health, and our way of life in Minnesota?

We witnessed an extraordinary level of commitment to conservation and the environment from diverse coalitions in several issue areas. Electric utilities worked with environmental organizations to craft historic mercury reduction legislation. Rural business interests and conservation organizations stood side by side to clean up our water. Sportsmen and environmentalists together demanded dedicated funding for land conservation, clean water, and parks and trails. We hope to see an increase in such powerful and diverse alliances in coming years.

Download 2006 Legislative Scorecard