Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Budget
NEW: Links included to the Governor’s budget recommendations.
We invite you to contribute your ideas for the state’s Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources budget. This forum is a space for you to join the discussion on how the state should prioritize funding for these issues.
(click images to enlarge)
New: Links to the Governor’s budget recommendations for the environment and natural resources.
Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)
Public Utilities Commission (PUC)
Try to be as specific as possible in your comments so that your suggestions can be fully utilized by the Economic Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Budget Division Committee. Thank you for adding your ideas to the discussion.
You may also share your ideas directly with your local Senator:
Follow this link to look up contact information for your Senator.
Follow this link to look up who represents you.
To learn more about the Senators who serve on the Environment, Energy and Natural Resrouces Budget Committee, follow this link.
Coon Rapids
January 15th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Now that the economy is beyond bad, we have reached a state of dire emergency. Big picures are no longer relevant; we need to provide for the basic life necessities, like for ood and shelter. There is little to no food at the food shelves. No wonder crime of theft is going up; I would probably steal something too if I was hungry enough.
The wisest thing to do is provide for ourselves for the right now, (food, clothing and shelter), and maybe cut some spending from the superfluous (extra curricular) budgets to study some superfluous environmental issues, for example sutdy of non-motorized trailways and all that goes with the watershed district stuff. Those are relevant issues under a stable economy, but at this time when people have lost their jobs of 10 to 15 years and are subsequently hungry, the studies of catttails, bog status, etc. seem quite extravagent.
Good Luck! ! !
Coon Rapids
January 15th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Now that the economy is beyond bad, we have reached a state of dire emergency. Big picures are no longer relevant; we need to provide for the basic life necessities, like for food and shelter. There is little to no food at the food shelves. No wonder crime of theft is going up; I would probably steal something too if I were hungry enough and.
The wisest thing to do is provide for ourselves for the right now, (food, clothing and shelter), and maybe cut some spending from the (extra curricular) budgets to study some superfluous environmental issues, for example study of non-motorized trailways and all that goes with the watershed district stuff. Those are relevant issues under a stable economy, but at this time when people have lost their jobs of 10 to 15 years and are subsequently hungry, the studies of catttails, bog status, etc. seem quite extravagent.
Good Luck! ! !
Wayzata
January 15th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
The government needs to get out of the business of predicting the climate and assuming that if we don’t make drastic changes the earth will suffer. This is all HOGWASH. A single volcanic eruption puts more “pollution” into the atmosphere than all of mankind EVER HAS! The earth is still here and what do you know? It is cooling!! Our weathermen can’t even predict next weeks weather but Al Gore can predict climate change? Give me a break. STOP the ethanol nonsense ( or start importing from Brazil). Don’t give any more money to the nonsensical windfarms. That energy is expensive, unreliable and when the wind doesn’t blow, the windmills produce pollution.
A carbon tax with cap and trade will ruin this country and again will give money to companies that don’t produce anything taking it from those that do produce things. What a terrible idea. Governor, you need to get off the green carpet and step back into reality. The Globe is not Warming. The water is cleaner than it has been since the 60s and so is the air. Don’t spend another dime on climate research, its going to change nomatter what!
Finlayson
January 16th, 2009 at 8:24 am
State, county, and city governments should consider joining together in financing and building wind generators to offset power usage in offices and facilities. The southwest part of Minnesota is well suited for wind generators. I am not suggesting that power be sold for profit but rather sold or exchanged for credit to offset energy bills for public buildings. I believe even with financing wind generation could start off revenue positive and after paid for could save the governments millions. Public schools could be included.
Ramsey
January 16th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
I could not agree more with Jeff of Wayzata the subsidies to ethynol are a waste and should stop if the feds want to pay for a product that is more detrimental to the planet than oil let them yes ethynol is worse for the enviroment than oil between the amount of water to produce a single gallon to the amount of energy to refine its just a dumb idea and Jeff is absolutly right about the volcano and for that matter Al Gore you would have to be pretty vain to think that man is more powerful than mother nature we are to global warming as much as a knat on an elephants behind.
Oakdale
January 17th, 2009 at 12:21 am
I would also like to second the thoughts of Jeff from Wayzata. He hits the nail squarely on the head on all counts. Well stated Jeff!!
It is time to put common sense back into government! Subsidies for corn ethanol and wind turbines makes no sense. If a renewable energy source can survive on its own it is worth pursuing. Let’s pull our heads out of the sand and build a few nuclear power plants….Oh but we can’t do that because the environmental nut job lobby won’t allow it!
I question how our representatives educate themselves on some of these issues…is science part of the process or is all learning done through the mainstream media. The latter would explain the mess were in now. Enough with the “feel good”, warm and fuzzy legislation. Get back to the basics.
Oakdale
January 17th, 2009 at 12:27 am
Stan from Finlayson - you need to do more research on the feasibility of wind power. It is not the long-term answer to our energy issues and it is incredibly expensive in the short term for an unreliable power source.
crystal
January 17th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
To deal with the problems of dirty stormwater runoff, promote clean water in our lakes, rivers and streams, and prevent flooding and erosion, is to have cities and city engineers to incorporate rain gardens in blvd’s along the curbs, to capture the stormwater, that drains off the streets and driveways. When street reconstruction is performed in established neighborhoods, “Rain Gardens” need to be offered to it’s residents. When parking lots are redone “Rain Gardens” need to be incorporated to capture the runoff. The city of Maplewood has constructed over 400 raingardens in residential neighborhoods since the 1990’s. The city of Burnville constructed a street reconstruction project in the early 2000’s that involved 17 out of 21 houses and these raingardens capture over 90% of the stormwater from the streets and driveways.(which also captures the phosporous that is the major reason for impaired waters in our urban lakes and waters.) Rain gardens also promote groundwater recharge which is predicted to be a possble problem in some metro counties by the year 2030 if we don’t start replacing ground water now.
The Environmental Protection Agency promotes raingardens in street reconstruction and the Metropolitan Council requires cities to submit “Surface Water Mangement Plans” in their Comprehensive Plans. The Minnestoa Board of Water and Soil Resources expect local governments:
1. protect, preserve and use natural surface and groundwater storage and retention systems
2. minimize public capital expenditures needed to correct flooding and water quality problems
3. identify and plan for means to effectively protect and improve surface and groundwater quality
4. prevent erosion of soil into surface water systems
5. promote groundwater recharge
6. protect and enhance fish and wildlife habitat and water recreation facilites
Stormwater runoff is the leading source of water pollution. Developement increases impervious surfaces thereby increasing runoff from city streets, driveways , parking lots and sidewalks on which pollutants from human activites settle. Common pollutants in runoff include pesticides, fertilizers, oils, metal, pathogens, salt, sediment, litter and other debris are transported via stormwater and discharged — untreated– to water resources through storm sewer systems. Cities are supposed to deal with stormwater through the “Stormwater Program for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems” (MS4)which are regulated through the use of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. These permits supposedly require cities to deal with reducing the amount of sediment and pollution that enters surface water from storm sewer systems to the maximum extent practicable. “Rain gardens” handle this problem extremely well, and allow the individual property owner and (tax payor) a way of reducing storm water runoff from thier own driveway and street in front of their house. By doing this it will decrease the amount of taxes that would be spend on expensive huge stormwater community projects, like storm water ponds that collect storm water from acres of streets and parking lot and driveway runoff. Raingardens can also be installed in parking lots and there are several designs to choose from.
Our metropolitan watersheds right now promote rain gardens to be used when redevelopement occurs in cities to reduce stormwater pollution from entering our lakes and rivers and streams.
If each city starts today with implementing enough “rain gardens” (Also called low impact developement L.I.D.’s) in each of their street reconstructions and parking lot redo’s (and of course require this in any new developement that involves impervious surface), we can clean up our lakes and rivers and reduce flooding and erosion in a practicle and low cost way, and prevent expensive tax paying projects. We as a nation, state and county and city are in a financial crisis. President elect Obama is promoting change. We need to change the way we deal with storm water drainage from our streets, driveways and parking lots. We need to make cities and city engineers aware of this simple concept that “they can help themselves”, by changing the way they built street reconstruction.
Right now the city of Robbinsdale is redoing a majority of city streets that drain into an impaired lake in their city. yet they did not offer rain gardens to the residents that are now getting thier streets redone. Instead the city engineer is promoting an expensive project that is going to cost almost a million dollars and almost 100,000 dollars more to run each year. It will pump out dirty water from the lake and recylce the water through some vegetation before it re-enters the lake. Doesn’t it make more sencse to offer raingardes along residentals yards and city parks to capture the dirty stormwater befor it enters the lake. This project also may emit odors. The city of Robbinsdale is asking Hennepin county to help finance this expensive project. It is a waste of tax paying dollars to fund a project like this.
Instead the city of Robbinsdale needs to offer its residents rain gardens in their street reconstruction projects. Rain gardens also are beautiful to look at and promote bird and butterfly activity. Raingardens will save taxes from being spent on costly projects. Please visit the city of Maplewood website:
http://www.ci.maplewood.mn.us
click environmental and natural resources
” stormwater management
” rainwater gardens
” street projects
” brochure for raingardens
Or call me at 763-537-3365 and I would be happy to answer your questions and also give a presentation on this matter. Also the cities need to incorporate at least a 10 foot “No Mow” buffer zone next to bodies of waters to prevent pollution to lakes and rivers. We need to smarten up. We are finding out that tax dollars only go so far. We need to start helping ourselves and use sollutions that work. We need to stop expecting our government to come up with costly solutions because we can’t change our behavior and use practicle solutions to solve our problems. We have in our society responsible people that want to save our environment and protect our waters. If we don’t change our ways in minnesota, every one of our bodies of water will become polluted and impaired just like our metro lakes. Our metro lakes can become clean again in time if we start today with”Rain Gardens” and “No Mow” zones along the shorelines.
Thankyou,
Janet Moore
concerned citizen for clean water and our financial crisis
Oakdale
January 17th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Janet,
I admire your passion for rain gardens and maintaining our water resources. I am all for clean water whether it be surface or ground water. You cite the City of Maplewood as an example for implementing rain gardens. Have you seen some of these residential rain “gardens” three or four years down the road? -Eyesore!- There needs to be some accountability for maintenance after these “gardens” are installed, especially if government grant money is involved. I know in my line of work if I use agency grant money for environmental projects, the watershed district and soil conservation district check up on the quality of our projects annually. The same should be done for residential and commercial rain garden installations.
I would offer the following as an example of state environmental legislation gone wrong. Several years ago the state mandated the removal of phosphorous from lawn fertilizer except for new seedings and P deficient soils. Great…this “feel good” legislation excited and satisfied the environmentalists and various lake associations. However, the latest research on nutrient fate out of the U of M paints a different picture. It seems that eliminating the P from lawn fertilizer is actually causing lawn quality to decrease. Thinner lawns are more prone to soil erosion and it is the soil particles that bind the P on site. Bottom line is increased P loading of our surface waters, the opposite effect of what that legislation intended!
I would offer two things that will almost immediately impact and substantially improve surface water quality, especially in the metro area.
1. Mandate that all cities sweep their streets at least every two weeks during the spring, summer and fall. This practice would remove most grass clippings, leaves, soil and fertilizer overspread before it enters the system. Leaves and grass clippings are killing our surface waters.
2. Use taxpayer money to fund an ongoing PSA blitz aimed at homeowners to educate them on how changing their actions can positively affect water quality. We must stop raking leaves or blowing grass clippings into the gutter! Enough said.
Grand Rapids
January 18th, 2009 at 11:34 am
I agree that we should stop wasting money on ethanol, all it is doing is making a select group of people rich at everyones expense. It makes no sense, take away the subsidy and it is the same cost as gas and it takes fossil fuel to produce, with a very large water consumption required in the process in a area of the state that doesn’t have that excess of water in the aquafir. Where will the water come from just to grow the crop down the road.You should not use food for fuel, look what it has done to the prices of everything from fertilizer to fruit cake, forget about it. I believe we should be looking at perfecting bio-diesel. My understanding is it can be made from many organic compounds from wood waste to grasses. Diesel fuel feeds us and feeds the world not to mention is the back bone of this country, farming, the railroad and trucking. Also I believe in our states current financial mess we could save 20 million by forgetting about the proposed state park on Lake Vermillion.
Minneapolis
January 18th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
I am writing in as a private citizen in regards to lead shot and lead fishing tackle. I wanted to weigh in on a Sunday night and to respond to the Senate’s genuine interest in constituent input.
The evidence is overwhelming that lead metal in shot, as well as in fishing tackle, is unnecessarily killing non-game wildlife such as bald eagles and loons. Non-lead alternatives readily exist but often their is a price differential.
My recommendation is two fold: address the price differential, and set a date certain (e.g., January 1, 2011) whereby sale of lead shot and lead tackle is prohibited in Minnesota. This would require fixed store sales, as well as internet sale. It would be acceptable for upland game hunters and anglers to use up their existing stock.
To address the price differential — lead shot and tackle is predominantly less costly then lead-free alternatives (there are examples of lead-free tackle being less costly or price competitive with lead versions — Minn. Statutes establish procedures for DNR to determine the incremental price difference. This increment would be the basis of a surcharge on lead shot and tackle up to the official sale prohibition date.
For example, if a 25 pack of lead shot typically sells for $14.99, and an equivalent lead-free 25 pack sells for $29.99, the increment would be $15.00. While a rule-making effort would guide this process, a surcharge would be set on lead shot. The objective would be to erase the price differential between lead and non-lead.
The justification for a surcharge is to internalize the externalities. Lead shot (and fishing tackle) results in costs incurred by taxpayers. We pay for the the U of M to operate a Raptor Center to euthanize raptors after lead poisoning (in a very small number of cases they can treat lead poisoning and return the raptor to the wild). We pay public dollars to regulate industries that manufacture lead-bearing products. We pay $ dollars to study the various mortality factors leading to some species being endangered — wouldn’t it be nice to erase one mortality factor from the multiple complex causes that must be researched?
The funds accrued from the increment could be used toward a multitude of purposes: hunter/angler education, mfger transition assistance, retailer transition assistance, raptor center and nongame rehabilitation center financial support, etc…
Minnesotans do not warm quickly to logical quick fixes like bans and prohibitions that arrive right around the corner. But we can set a sunset date out into the distance and use or the authority of govt to address artificial economic inequities.
The free market has not figured out the means to internalize all the additional costs incurred by the public through the use of lead metal in hunting and angling. In such cases, it is the appropriate role of our elected officials to address what the marketplace is neglecting to do.
Actions such as the above require bold leadership and a willingness to stand up to vested interests, namely mfgers who profit from the fact that lead metal is an artificially low cost raw material and who ultimate fate in the environment has not been factored into price points.
Oakdale
January 19th, 2009 at 11:51 am
Let’s call a spade a spade - a surcharge is a tax. The residents of the state of Minnesota pay enough taxes already.
“The evidence is overwhelming that lead metal in shot, as well as in fishing tackle, is unnecessarily killing non-game wildlife such as bald eagles and loons.”
Please share with us the mortality rates attributed to lead tackle and shot. Do you have numbers from independent researchers not funded by PETA or other groups of this type? My fear is that this subject is an agenda-driven item for certain environmental groups when,in fact,lead poisoning is probably an insignificant cause of loon mortality.
From the MN DNR, 2008,:
“Loon populations. Loons reflect the overall quality of Minnesota’s lakes. DNR’s Minnesota Loon Monitoring Program collects data on six 100-lake “index areas.” Loon populations are currently stable in all six index areas.”
I think we have bigger fish to fry at the moment.
Anoka
January 19th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Government must get out of buinenss’ way. It cannot predict which business will survive and which will not. Making Fuel(ethanol) out of Food is assinine and expensive in monies and resourses(17 gallons of water and 1 gallon of oil and too much grain)to make one gallon of ethanol…stupidity on a grand scale! We in Minnesota have a natural resourse the world uses every day but we ignor…PEAT…Baby coal. MN has 45% of all the peat in the USA…use it and create a big industry and create a plethora of jobs and cheap fuel…But government needs to get out of business’ way and allow the market to decide… not silly politicians. An for pete’s sake NO CAP & TRADE TAXES…More silliness and theft of taxpayers monies!
Hoffman
January 22nd, 2009 at 6:00 pm
There are parts of the budget that have longer term objectives that will need to be put on hold for a few years.
What parts of the over-all budget will have the least affect on the lives of Minnesotans?
1)Natural resources(we need to utilize the clean water fund to help make up some of the deficit)usually has longer term goals.
2)There are certain parts of the Safety Programs that can be looked at(Safety is important but not at all costs)
3)Use this opportunity to steamline gov’t agencies. Private industry has to do it. Gov’t should lead by example. Cut administrative positions that would have the least affect on the day to day activities.
4)Promote all levels of gov’t to consolidate: Township, County and state services. Avoid duplication of services between Federal, states and counties. It was good to see Govenor Pawlenty start talks with Wisconsin. Expand this with other states. We are a more regional society today. Counties need to regionalize. Many counties are doing this already but more needs to be coordinated.
5)Keep our troops home.
Bemidji
January 23rd, 2009 at 9:30 am
Opportunities in a budget crisis?
At the urging of my Senator, I wrote the following and submitted it to the Governor, legislative leaders, and selected agency personnel:
http://www.beltramiswcd.org/siems/Crisis.pdf
My intent was to broaden the dialogue a bit and to provide an opportunity for more movement at the center by pushing the periphery a bit. I am not so naive as to think these ideas will be adopted exactly as presented but I do believe we will need to consider such ideas if we hope to transition to a sustainable Green Economy.
Bemidji
January 23rd, 2009 at 9:42 am
Note to Paul Diegnau:
See http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/papers/lead_fishing_gear/fpt_06-13.pdf
This 41-page,2006 paper provides a good review of impacts of lead tackle on loons and other wildlife. Numerous specific peer-reviewed articles documenting adverse effects are included and many include direct hyperlinks. PS. It is not funded by PETA.
Bemidji
January 23rd, 2009 at 9:47 am
Note to Don Carter re: government and business
From Adam Smith. 1776. Wealth of Nations:
‘The proposal of any new law or regulation which comes from [businessmen], ought always to be listened to with great precaution, and ought never to be adopted till after having been long and carefully examined, not only with the most scrupulous, but with the most suspicious attention. It comes from an order of men, whose interest is never exactly the same with that of the public, who have generally an interest to deceive and even to oppress the public, and who accordingly have, upon many occasions, both deceived and oppressed it.’
We are living out the economic consequences of “getting out of the way of business”
Anoka
January 23rd, 2009 at 11:12 am
We are not a DEMOCRACY WE are a REPUBLIC (individual soverneigns not a collective)–Learn the difference-this country does not owe you anything but safety-No free lunch, house, car, cell phone, children—NOTHING! Certain people must focus on the real problem and it is not Free enterprize and business.
Stop playing a parlor trick by diverting attention to some imagined fraud or class warfare. The real fraudsters are the politicians who Tax, mandate, raise Fees (read: tax)us to death for special projects i.e. Wah, Wah, Wah Welfare Kings and Queens who steal every bit of the money, Healthcare, housing, Schooling, transportation and food they receive by laying on their lazy, ignorant scamming butts. If we give them a short term hand up; fine… but they live on us for generations(see state records) They give us a sob story (businesses and individuals) cry, moan, vote and wait for some corrupt politician to come and save them just to get their backing.
What does THE public talk about… that taxes should change to??? How about….CHANGE to CUT, CUT, CUT, taxes to the Bone the way it was in the 1930’s when you could own a residence…walk away and come back 10 years later and it would be still yours–not the tax mans! 40% of the public pay NO Taxes and live off of us FREE…they contribute NOTHING and steal EVERYTHING or the politicians put a gun to our head and STEAL it for them! People wake up and smell what these charlatans are shoveling????
Minneapolis
January 25th, 2009 at 5:59 am
The legislature has done its best to increase the energy cost for every Minnesotan. I not sure where they think families will find the money to pay down the budget shortfall? Every other business does a cost/benefit analysis before iniating untested projects. Wind, Solar and Biofuels were not competive (needed taxpayer subsidy!) when gas was $4/ gal. And each has severe drawbacks preventing them from replacing fossil fuels.
A good example is the legislature’s feel good mandate of requiring school buses to run on clean burning 10% Biodiesel. Did no one in St Paul know that Biodiesel turns to Jell-O at below 10 degrees or didn’t they expect Minnesota to fall to that temperature in January now that we are told there is a consensus that the earth is irreversibly warming?
The solution was to let the buses run all night, greatly adding to the pollution which was to be avoided.
A option along with drilling is an economical “green” energy source from the only industry without an industrial fatality in its 50 year history. All the legislature needs to do is to lift the ban on Nuclear power plants and refrain from placing roadblocks to the economic engine of safe, cheap, clean electricity. And an added benefit is creating the many construction jobs building these major projects.
St. Paul
January 25th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
I am aghast at seemingly intelligent people pushing for more nuclear power plants, which take several years to get on line,use exorbitant amounts of water for cooling—and to this day have no save place to store the waste which has a half life of tens of thousands of years.
With this kind of “forward thinking” of solving our energy problem, there is certainly no concern for the future of this planet. It’s “to heck with the earth and future generations! It’s what’s what makes a financial profit for the few now!”.
Maybe it’s time for ethics to share a place with intelligence…that one can not be accepted without the other in problem solving.
St. Paul
January 25th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
Talk about poorly managed departments–these departments are awash in layers of do-nothing managers and analysts. Or take, a look at DNR’s lousy IT unit and at the poor job it does of providing basic information technology services.
The budget of DNR should be cut by 10%.
Northfield
January 26th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Hello Stan from Finlayson,
I think you are on to something! I just introduced a bill related to your idea. It allows schools boards to form business entities solely for a wind energy project; they can sell any extra energy they do not use and they are exempted from the production tax. The incentives help promote alternative energy and eventually help reduce energy costs. It is Senate File #249. Thanks for participating!
Finlayson
January 26th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Go for it. I am glad to see a thinking person…..I think the colleges in Northfield prove the point…
Maple Grove
January 27th, 2009 at 10:23 am
While the flower power children have been hitting the grecian formula in a desperate attempt at holding on to their youth, they did effectively demonize Nuclear Power. Did you know that the federal ban Jimmy Carter put on recycling nuclear waste into more fuel has been lifted. Did you know that the entire nuclear waste output of France fits nicely into a space about the size of a small house? The engineering did not go to sleep for the last 30 years, we did. Modern Nuclear Reactors are much safer, generate much less waste product and can actually recycle much of the old waste. It is time to bring in the NEW generation of Nuclear power as our aging reactors start to see the horizon.
1. Lift the ban on building new reactors in MN
2. Promote the building (jobs), staffing (jobs), and transmission (jobs) that bring this STABLE, RELIABLE, ELECTRICAL power source online in our resource starved state.
3. Feel free to promote windmills to catch the breeze when it blows, solar panels to catch the sun on cloudless days, but nuclear for all the other times.
Sidenote to Ms. Sisson - the water is used for cooling, but little is consumed, unlike ethanol production. It merely aborbs the excess heat and then releases it back in the holding pond.
maple grove
January 28th, 2009 at 10:52 am
Reasonable discourse by all sides of these issues might actually come to some compromises that not only work, but benefit more than just a few. With the resources available right in our own state, we should be able to produce and manage our entire energy problem….note to Federal officials, if we have to buy even one bit of energy from countries that don’t share our values, don’t do it. Bring our troops home and start saving billions trying to solve everyone elses problems…we can’t do it, and who’s to say which countries problems are worse than others…if our decision about involvement militarily involves oil, it’s the wrong decision.
Anoka
January 28th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
on the “Wealth of Nations” of Adam Smith: Comment is ouT of context as Smith had some reservations as well as mostly “Leave the individual (BUSINESS) alone.
Wealth” means “well-being”; Smith’s book is in fact about material well-being.
The Wealth of Nations is an influential statement of the case for “laissez-faire”, the thesis that government should not attempt to control or direct economic activity.
His arguments are in terms of BOTH economic efficiency and justice. His extracts ask what functions governments do and do not have, and why.
The Wealth of Nations is also a philosophy of history.
Smith distinguishes several stages of social development culminating in “commercial civilisation”, a state of considerable and growing national “wealth” (well-being).
The wealth of a nation consists in the well-being of the mass of ordinary citizens: in commercial nations wealth is well-diffused, according to Smith.
HOWEVER, he does not see everything in commercial civilisation in rose colour.
The underlying cause of the development of human society from the hunting to the commercial stage is one of the “propensities” of human nature, the propensity to “truck” (exchange).
This leads to division of labour, which leads to increased productivity.
****The best contribution governments can make to the wealth of nations and to the progress of human society is to leave individuals free to follow their natural propensity to make exchanges.*****
Blaine
January 28th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
The environment is at a critical state - it is beyond unfortunate that the economy is too. Everyone needs clean air and clean water. State funding for environmental initiatives like renewable energy is essential. I am in favor of wind power, incentives for companies and individuals to “go green”, and incentives for creating green jobs. Public buildings should be made more energy efficient. This would save on energy costs and put people to work.
Saint Paul
January 31st, 2009 at 5:33 pm
In light of all the negative comments, I would like to offer an opportunity or two. Anaerobic Digestion would provide a way to both reduce landfills through compost collection of household/restaurant/campus food waste and farm/animal waste as well as create captured natural gas (methane) for a truly renewable, bio-fuel. I encourage efforts in this direction. I also offer reducing the demand on energy from the central power grid by supporting residents and companies installing solar or wind or geothermal/ground-source heat pumps, as their sites permit, perhaps through rebates. I have also made an investment in LED lighting, and it has shaved my electric bill, so I recommend LED conversion especially from incandescents (unlike compact fluorescents, there is no mercury). Really, the best solution is an investment in CONSERVATION. The cheapest fuel is that which we do not use. Turn it down, turn it off, unplug it, walk, take the bus, etc. We all know the mantra; now it’s time to live it. The solution is up to US, not just the politicians.
Buffalo
February 3rd, 2009 at 7:22 am
I have found the environmental agencies of Minnesota to be a train wreck for operations. The DNR scandals are a perfect example. My suggestions are quite simple.
1. Audit all state departments on a regular basis. The MPCA would benefit greatly from this as would BOWSR.
2. Fix everything that is wrong.
3. Fire all so called scientists in these agencies.
4. Send all scientific duties to the state universities, all universities not just the U of M.
5. Set fair and reasonable research agreements so the state can make some money from the MNSCU schools. At present, many researchers either quit teaching or retire to finish their research because the policies are so extremely unfair. It borders intellectual slavery to work at a MNSCU school.
6. Farm out as much field work as possible to the private sector. The DNR lake mappers freely admit I do a much better job than the agency.
If the politicians are serious about getting us back on our feet then government must shrink and monies must be set forth to promote the private sector. The services will be improved, less money will be spent, and more taxes will be collected.
Wayzata
February 6th, 2009 at 10:46 pm
Let’s get to the bottom of the energy issue. What do the majority of Americans want??? We want cheap and reliable energy. This means coal power plants and nuclear plants. I was laughing when I saw the Arbor Lakes windmill in Maple Grove spinning today when there was no wind. It must’ve been the diesel generator running and spinning it for good PR. Too bad the generators in the wind mills produce MORE pollution than a coal power plant does. OOPS! Thank goodness there are smart people around who know how safe, reliable and clean nuclear power really is. (Thank you Steve from Maple Grove)
Let’s not waste any more CO2 in the form of Al Gore hot air worrying about climate change…it has always changed and will always change and we can’t do a darn thing about it. How many school kids are being taught that a SINGLE volcanic eruption emits more “pollution” than all of mankind has EVER produced??? How long have volcanoes been erupting???
We need to get back to the basics of the environment. Clean water and clean air. The air hasn’t been cleaner since the 60’s nor has the water. Unfortunately the EPA keeps ratcheting down the “acceptable” levels of so-called pollutants so it appears as if our environment is getting worse. ITS NOT!! Let’s stop wasting money studying climate change…no more money to universities and colleges to study what we know will always happen and we can’t do anything to stop.
Lets get back to cheap energy that is reliable. No more funding of this Ethanol hoax.
Let’s use what we have…coal, oil and natural gas!!!
saint paul
February 9th, 2009 at 11:54 am
I am encouraging the state to look at the plastax implemented in Ireland and other US Cities. These regulations charge a fee for every plastic bag used by consumers.
These programs have drastically cut the number of bags in the waste stream and at the same time have raised substantial funds for governments.
Let’s do this now in Minnesota!
SCKH
Bemidji
February 18th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Use taxes strategically to discourage ecologically destructive practices and economically reckless behaviors. (1) Impose/increase sales tax rates on luxury items and non-sustainable technologies. (2) Place targeted property tax surcharges on land owners adopting practices detrimental to the public good (e.g., removal or shoreland vegetation, soil erosion from farm land). (3) Adopt a truly progressive and simplified income tax system in which the wealthiest contibute an increasing share to the commonwealth (e.g., index tax rate directly to income and eliminate all deductions — 2% rate for $20,000 income, 4.5% rate for $45,000 income, 11.5% rate for $115,000 income up to some maximum flat rate)
Bemidji
February 18th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
To Don Carter:
You need to re-read your Adam Smith. You are seeing only what you wish to see, not what Smith actually wrote. The full text of W-O-N is on the web. Seach and extract of my earlier quote and see its context for yourself.
To Bud Warpe:
Far and away the largest portion of energy subsidies go to coal and oil — exploration, extraction, and transport all get subsidies. Eliminate those subsidies and let solar and wind compete on a level playing field.
Saint Cloud
February 19th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
Cut state programs that are not doing what was intended.
I signed up 90 acres of timberland in the “Sustainable Forestry Incentive” program and receive an annual payment to help defray the real estate tax cost. My understanding is that this program was designed to keep land in timber rather than developing it. Sounds good but my real estate taxes have gone up 63.8% from 2004 to 2008 with another 20.4% increase scheduled for taxes payable in 2009. This land is in the program for eight years and it looks like when the eight years are up I will have to develope it in order to be able to pay my taxes. In other words the program has failed to do what was intended and should be abolished.
Sturgeon Lake
February 20th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
Stop work on any and all ATV trails, people won’t be using them anyway
Cottage Grove
February 22nd, 2009 at 9:57 am
Stop ethanol right now. It is proven to be a total waste of money. We don’t need to think about it any longer. The facts are in. Stop Ethanol now. No brainer.
St Paul
February 22nd, 2009 at 8:56 pm
It is very important to think of reform. I can think of two employees in this this department who have each collected more than $1 million in wages and benefits from the state (they have well-paid professional jobs) and have returned nothing of value to the taxpayer. These employees do not have the skills, knowledges and abilities required for their jobs. State government’s civil service system is not working as intended and needs to be cleaned up.
Sandstone
February 23rd, 2009 at 11:20 am
Comments regarding the State of Minnesota’s budget
First and foremost, there are no quick easy answers to the financial situation of our state. However, we must recognize some basic, common, too often misunderstood facts and principles. Not intending to assign any priorities, some controlling factors are;
A. There can be no sacred cows.
B. We cannot lose anything we presently do not have.
C. This is not a Democrat or Republican, urban or rural problem.
D. It is a statewide problem which includes every aspect of our society including each and every one of us, regardless of age, race, sex, religious or political conviction.
E. We must clearly differentiate and clearly define what we are saying when we use the terms, “cut and cuts”, and “reduced increases”.
F. It will require sacrifice and acceptance of responsibility by each and every one of us to learn to live within our means. This applies to our personal lives as well as in the exercising our responsibilities at work, in government or industry, and, if you will, at play.
For discussion purposes, let’s start with a wage freeze at the 1 January 2009 level. This is primarily for all state and local government workers. Review paid time off and fringe benefits. Reduce overtime by rescheduling when and where possible. Look for duplication of efforts not only within an organization or agency but by more than one agency and or organization. For example, presently the DNR, EPA, PCA, BWSR, SWCD’s, all have jurisdiction and/or functional responsibilities pertaining to wetlands within the state of Minnesota, along with the overall responsibilities of the Army Corps of Engineers. Restrict expansions of objectives and project to areas that can be financed with cost savings resulting from improved management and oversight techniques. Initiate cost savings programs that reward employees with financial bonuses for their cost saving ideas. Cap salaries once a freeze is lifted. For those receiving clothing assistance, utilize the cost savings by taking advantage of the various thrift shops and Good Will stores. Review the authorized types of foods allowed to be purchased with food stamps, removing such foods as Lobster, fresh salmon, alcoholic beverages etc.
I realize I am not giving any specific area to focus on. I do not feel a realistic attempt to resolve the financial status of the state of Minnesota can be accomplished by focusing on any one specific area. Nor can any specific area be omitted from review.
I thank you for the opportunity to express my opinion in this very important matter for everyone in our great state of Minnesota
Sincerely;
Leland Magnuson
41935 Duxbury Road
Sandstone MN 55072
Phone 320 245 2868 e-mail jlmag@northlc.com
Bemidji
March 24th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
To: Jeff Gambach
In response to: “Don’t spend another dime on climate research…”
Research is a vital component of our education system. Well conducted research opens up dialogue, serves as an educational tool for the masses, helps save money looking forward, and leads to ever-progressive innovation. Research opens doors (thought processes) that were unforeseen and unimagined; leading to advances in all areas. Minnesota’s education system produces some of the brightest minds in the country and now is the perfect time to invest in knowledge; especially pertaining to our relationship with the planet and each other. Said relationship should be glaringly apparent since we rely on science/research so heavily in daily life (e.g. fuel, food, shelter).
Personally: I advocate for wind and solar power. Nuclear is not “safe” and it brings to mind one word: NIMBY.
St. Paul
April 3rd, 2009 at 6:31 pm
I am writing to suggest that some good ideas being hatched in the state legislature may be hard for unemployed persons like myself to afford. For example, at our house would like to install a rain garden, because we have a sewer grate out front and runoff goes directly to Como Lake, an important urban water body. Though we’re on board in spirit, In order to do this at the downspout we’ll need to remove an old tree ($) that’s ready to come down and do some stump grinding ($) as well as appropriate plantings. We’re willing to do the digging and planting ourselves. However, even if the state can match the cost of prepping the site, it will still be impossible for us to participate, because we’re taking money out of our retirement accounts to pay our taxes this April. Ditto with solar and other good ideas. If it’s “matching” funds, you may find people who can’t participate.
Plymouth
April 15th, 2009 at 6:13 am
Just happened on this site and found the comments interesting. I have to say that there is a good deal of unsupported innuendo presented as fact. I have to reply to the tragically ignorant volcano tidbit that seems to allow many to throw their hands up in the air and claim that “if a volcano causes more damage than I ever could than there is no hope”, and enables them to go along polluting as they always have with a restful conscious. Problem is… its not true.
—–Worldwide, people and their activities pump 26 billion tons (a 2004 number) of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The total from volcanoes is about 200 million tons a year — or less than 1 percent of the man-made emissions —–
Ignorance or laziness of fact has always allowed man to do incredibly harmful and inhumane acts. I hope we can learn from those mistakes before it is to late. Keep up the discussion.