A Coalition for Smart Conservation

Paid for by the North Dakotans for Common Sense Conservation Coalition

Agenda

• Who We Are • Why We Were Formed • What Is The Proposed Measure • Why We Oppose It • Other Measure Concerns • What You Can Do

Who We Are North Dakotans for Common Sense Conservation is a coalition of Industry, Agriculture, Business and Government associations committed to the stewardship and enhancement of North Dakota’s outdoors, hunting and wilderness through smart conservation.

Who We Are

Who They Are

Why We Were Formed

The North Dakotans for Common Sense Conservation Coalition was formed to promote smart conservation which develops, enhances and conserves nature through responsible stewardship. We all care about conservation, but this constitutional measure is not the answer.

What is the Proposed Measure

The Clean Water, Wildlife and Parks Amendment would add a new section to Article X of the North Dakota Constitution committing 5% of North Dakota’s oil extraction tax, conservatively estimated at $300-$400 million per biennium, to a new massive conservation fund.

Why We Oppose this Measure

• Driven by out-of-state • Lack of flexibility • Biased advisory board • Amount of money • How money will be spent

Driven by Out-of-State Interests

• While there is an in-state face on this measure, it is driven by out-of-state forces

• This proposed constitutional amendment campaign is being funded mostly by out-of-state special interests groups.

• Reports filed with the Secretary of State’s office showed 96% ($662,000) of the nearly $700,000 in contributions in 2012 and 2013 came from outside North Dakota.

• Their campaign is being handled by a firm out of Washington, DC.

Why We Oppose-Lack of Flexibility • 75% must be spent each year. • Conservation funded regardless of

other needs or economic conditions

• Takes a vote of people to change or fix a constitutional measure – Dangerous precedent – First ever constitutionally mandated

spending • Takes money from education,

roads, tax relief, senior programs, etc.

Why We Oppose-Biased Board

• 13 members • Only ONE energy industry representative • Only ONE farmer/rancher member

• Board members would be required to have a background in land conservation and/or conservation activism

Citizen Accountability Board

Why We Oppose-Amount of Money

• Almost $300 million per biennium now – $2.8 million per week now

• Grows to over $400 million per biennium – Almost $4 million per week later

• $4.8 billion over 25 years

Why We Oppose-Amount of Money

• Assumptions about oil production: – ND will produce 1.2 million bpd by 2015 – Production will increase to 1.8 million bpd by

2021 and decrease to 1.2 million by 2039 – Price of oil stays at $100/barrel – 6.5% oil extraction tax remains unchanged

Why We Oppose-Amount of Money

$130 Million+ Already Allocated for Conservation and Related Efforts

North DakotaGame and Fish

North DakotaParks and Recreation

North Dakota OutdoorHeritage Fund

NDSU ExtensionService (SoilConservation District)

$67.5 Million

$30 Million

$31.8 Million

$1.1 Million

Source: North Dakota Office of Management and Budget, 2013-15

Don’t Support A Measure That Doesn’t Measure Up

$4.8 Billion for Conservation Activism

LESS Funding for: • Infrastructure • Schools • Tax Relief • Flood

Protection

Why We Oppose-Amount of Money

Why We Oppose-How It Will Be Spent

• No clear plan • Could buy land and

compete with agriculture • Could be given to radical

environmental and wilderness groups

• Could expand fee hunting or limit hunting access

• 75% has to be spent each year regardless of need

What Can You Do?

• Support smart conservation • Help spread the word • Don’t sign the petition • If the measure makes it to the ballot, then Vote No!

www.NDCommonSenseConservation.com

A Coalition for Smart Conservation

Paid for by the North Dakotans for Common Sense Conservation Coalition