In an end-of-session column, A clear contrast in priorities, published in the Morrison County Record and the Brainerd Dispatch, Little Falls freshman Republican Minnesota state senator Nathan Wesenberg throws shade on the recently passed bonding bills.
Using bonding to pay for tree planting is a particular annoyance to the wildlife biologist--though a review of earlier bonding efforts reveals provisions for shade tree planting has been included since the Pawlenty administration ( 2008: Shade tree diseases, Minn. Laws 2008 c 179 s 7)
Wesenberg notes in the Dispatch version of the copy:
I believe the Minnesota Legislature should focus on actual infrastructure needs instead of grants for art centers, theater space, and tree planting. . . .
. . . Democrats pushed forward two bonding bills: one cash bill and one traditional bonding bill. Historically, these bills are meant to fund critical infrastructure projects throughout the state, such as wastewater treatment facilities, roads, bridges, clean water projects, flood mitigation efforts, and more. These bills are meant to maintain and support all the facilities that keep our state and communities safe and running efficiently. For that reason, they should focus equally on metro and rural Minnesota. But instead of focusing on important issues, Democrats seized the opportunity to pass bills that fund a number of their metro-centric pet projects.
As we head into next year’s session, it will be another bonding year, and Democrats have already stated their interest in doing yet another cash bill. Though I don’t have much hope in it happening, I believe we should focus on actual infrastructure needs instead of grants for art centers, theater space, and and tree planting. . . .
Blog posts are written by fools like me, but only Nathan Wesenberg would cast shade on a tree.
Apparently Wesenberg--or the Republican State senate communication staff==couldn't be bothered to check what's been in bonding bills "historically," instead asserting that art centers, theaters and tree planting aren't funded through this means.
Given how misleading Wesenberg's claim is, that's unfortunate--since the ever-helpful staff of the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library (LRL) has published online a list of Major Capital Investment and Bonding Bills and Laws, 1963-present.
Bluestem decided to fact-check the notion that using bonding to fund tree planting is a consequence of the DFL trifecta, a "metro-centric pet project." Not an actual infrastructure need.
Now, according to the LRL entry for the last full bonding bill, 2020's Omnibus public finance; capital investment; taxes; supplemental budget. passed during a time of divided government, when Wesenberg's Republican Senate caucus controlled that chamber, Bluestem reads this item in Listing of Approved Projects (page 2) under Natural Resources, line 63 Shade Tree Program . .$1000 [000].
What was Capital Investment chair Dave Senjem thinking?
Readers can find out more information about thus program on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' website, under Shade tree program bonding grants, 2021-2024. Perhaps Wesenberg confuses the term "urban" with "metro-centric.
The 2020 grant recipients include such Twin Cities locales as Duluth, Lake City, Red Wing, Rochester, Willmar and Winona.
Then there's a ten-year gap.
In 2010 there's this among "Capital Improvement Projects", 2009-2010 Session Laws Index on the Laws of Minnesota 2010, Chapter 189 (HF2700) Omnibus capital investment listing" for Shade tree program, Minn. Laws 2010 c 189 s 7
Sub 12. Shade Tree Program $3,000,00
For grants to cities, counties, townships, and park and recreation boards in cities of the first class for the planting of publicly owned shade trees on public land to provide environmental benefits; replace trees lost to forest pests, disease or storm; or to establish a more diverse community forest better able to withstand disease and forest pests. The commissioner must give priority to grant requests to remove and replace trees with active infestations of emerald ash borer. For purposes of this appropriation, "shade tree" means a woody perennial grown primarily for aesthetic or environmental purposes with minimal to residual timber value and no intent to harvest the tree for its wood. Any tree planted with funding under this subdivision must be a species native to Minnesota.
Under 2008's Shade tree diseases, Minn. Laws 2008 c 179 s 7:
Subd. 21.
Diseased Shade Tree Removal and Replacement
For grants to cities, counties, townships, and park and recreation boards in cities of the first class for the identification, removal, disposal, and replacement of dead or dying shade trees located on public property that are lost to forest pests or disease. For purposes of this appropriation, "shade tree" means a woody perennial grown primarily for aesthetic or environmental purposes with minimal to residual timber value. The commissioner shall consult with municipalities, park, and recreation boards in cities of the first class, nonprofit organizations, and other interested parties in developing eligibility criteria.
I looked for other shade tree projects beginning with the first Pawlenty but didn't find them. Nor were there shade tree bonding projects during the Dayton administration, even when Democrats had a trifecta for 2013-2014.
As for one of Wesenberg's assertions--that the trifecta led to bonding being used for art centers and theater spaces, I suggest readers check past bonding bills for that sort of thing--and Wesenberg or the staff writers check the notion that art and theater are "metro-centric."
Wesenberg's kvetching seems to be simple placebaiting grounded in a "DFL out of control" frame, rather than facts/
As far as other spending on shade trees, Bluestem recommends reading S. St. Paul DFL Environment and Natural Resources Committee Chair Rick Hansen's Legislative Update – June 9, 2023 email's discussion of Tree Planting Provisions in Environment Bill.
Related posts
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Photo: Tree planting. Minnesota DNR.
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