Voters to decide if MN Lottery will keep funding environmental causes

The debate over the future of environmental funding in Minnesota

The Minnesota Lottery has been a major source of funding for environmental causes in the state for over 30 years.

But a constitutional amendment on the November ballot could change that.

The amendment would require the Legislature to allocate all lottery proceeds to education.

Amendment backers say education is a higher priority than environmental protection.

“We need to make sure that our kids are getting the best possible education,” said Rep. Steve Drazkowski (R-Mazeppa), the amendment’s chief sponsor.

“We’ve got a lot of needs in education, and we need to make sure that’s our priority.”

Environmentalists say the amendment would be a disaster for Minnesota’s environment.

They argue that the lottery has been a major source of funding for important environmental programs.

"The lottery has been a huge success for Minnesota,” said Laura Bishop, executive director of the Minnesota Environmental Partnership.

"It's generated billions of dollars for education and environmental protection, and it's been a great way to invest in our state's future."

The debate over the amendment is likely to be heated. It could have a major impact on the future of environmental funding in Minnesota.

Here are some key points to keep in mind:

• The Minnesota Lottery has been a major source of funding for environmental causes in the state for over 30 years.
• A constitutional amendment on the November ballot could change that. The amendment would require the Legislature to allocate all lottery proceeds to education.
• Amendment backers say education is a higher priority than environmental protection.
• Environmentalists say the amendment would be a disaster for Minnesota’s environment.