Under water

State Sen. Ellen Anderson, DFL-St. Paul, got some face time with DFL state convention delegates Saturday afternoon to plug the constitutional amendment proposal for increased environment and arts funding.

The delegates meeting in Rochester agreed to suspend the convention rules on a voice vote to let Anderson speak about the sales tax increase proposal that will be decided by voters in the November general election. Anderson touted the ballot question that will ask Minnesota voters if they want to increase the state sales tax by three-eighths of 1 percent to clean up impared streams and lakes and pay for cultural programs.

Anderson said four out of 10 waters tested in Minnesota don't meet federal clean water standards.

“We are in danger of becoming the land of 10,000 polluted lakes,” Anderson said.

The dedicated funding proposal probably wasn't on delegates' minds for very long after Anderson spoke. That's because U.S. Senate candidate Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer rocked the convention shortly after Anderson's speech when he withdrew his nomination bid and threw his support behind Al Franken.

But supporters of the amendment, known as the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, papered the convention tables with informational pieces prepared by Vote Yes Minnesota, a St. Paul-based group that is promoting the ballot initiative.

"Acting now to ensure that we properly protect our water, parks, wildlife and arts and cultural heritage for our children and grandchildren is an investment well worth making," the flier states.