Breaking an environmental impasse, Gov. Tim Walz signs Minnesota bonding bill

Gov. Tim Walz signed into law Tuesday $102 million worth of clean water and natural resources projects, and he potentially resolved a lawsuit by environmental groups over what they said was a raid on a state conservation trust fund.

The projects, which include new and upgraded storm­water systems and expansions to nature centers and park space, were approved by the Legislature last year but would have been paid for largely through the state's Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. Eight conservation groups filed suit, arguing that it was a misuse of the fund, which was created by voters in 1988. They said that if lawmakers were allowed to tap it for storm­water and park projects, nothing would keep them from coming back to draw from it again.

http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-gov-tim-walz-signs-his-first-bills-one-aimed-at-car-tab-fix/506714942/