ST. PAUL -- Two proposed state constitutional amendments are headed for votes in the full Senate.
A proposal to increase the state's 6½ percent sales tax to 6M, percent passed the Senate Rules Committee 17-7 on Wednesday. It is due on Senate floor Monday.
The second proposal, to guarantee Minnesotans affordable health care, passed 14-8. Senate leaders don't know when it will get a vote by all senators.
The sales tax amendment would dedicate the new money -- estimated to be $277 million in 2009, the first year of full funding -- to outdoors, parks, trials, a clean water fund and the arts.
Former DFL Sen. Bob Lessard of International Falls urged the Rules Committee to advance the measure.
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"This is landmark legislation," he said.
Sen. Dallas Sams, DFL-Staples, shepherded the amendment proposal through five committees, reaching the full Senate vote for the first time since Lessard started the effort eight years ago.
Opponents said they did not want to include public broadcasting and other arts and humanities programs.
In 2009, the increased taxes would spend $60.9 million in each of three funds: clean water, parks and trails, and arts. Another $94.1 million would be spent on hunting, fishing and similar needs.
The House is considering a similar amendment, but funds would come from the existing sales tax.
Sen. Linda Berglin, DFL-Minneapolis, promoted the amendment that would say every Minnesotan "has the right to health care and it is the responsibility of the governor and Legislature to implement all necessary legislation to ensure affordable health care."
The governor and lawmakers would have until 2009 to establish the new health care system.
Republicans repeatedly questioned Berglin about how much her amendment would cost, but she that would be up to future legislatures and the governor.
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The amendment's chances in the House are dim, where the bill is carried by Rep. Larry Howes. R-Walker.
Both proposals would need to be approved by voters on Nov. 7 before they become part of the State Constitution.
