Mike Kaszuba's story in today's Star Tribune picks up on some interesting ties between legislators and the Ducks Unlimited conservation group, including the sale of the group's $60 banquet tickets from the state office of state Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen, Republican chairman of the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee, which "helps control whether Ducks Unlimited will get the money it wants."

And DFL state Rep. David Dill, who is part of the group that distributes the Legacy Amendment money to groups including Ducks Unlimited, is one of four legislators co-chairing the Ducks Unlimited State Capitol chapter, the story says. Dill said he was a Ducks Unlimited chapter president before be became a legislator.

Two dozen legislators, including House Speaker Kurt Zellers, left the Capitol to attend the banquet two weeks ago while there was a debate in the House on the cuts to  health and social services programs.

The story says the legislators' affiliation with the banquet is one of "the intricate ties that have long bound Minnesota's leading outdoors groups and some of the state's most influential legislators on environmental issues."

An advisory group of citizens and legislators recommended Ducks Unlimited get nearly $3 million in 2009.

Sen. Linda Higgins, DFL-Minneapolis, is quoted saying:  "I think there is a pretty cozy relationship with some of our members and some of the conservation groups, like [Ducks Unlimited]."

And there's a note about previous scrutiny of the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council — which recommends how to spend Legacy money for outdoors projects:

"While its policy states members must disclose potential conflicts, it notes that simply belonging to a group that gets funding is not a conflict.

"Scott Rall, a council member, has voted to fund $30 million in Pheasants Forever projects even though he is a Pheasants Forever chapter president. Last year he was named Pheasants Forever's Minnesota volunteer of the year."

Republican state Rep. Dean Urdahl, chair of the House Legacy Funding Division, wants board members responsible for awarding Legacy money for outdoors projects, clean water, parks and trails and the arts to disclose potential conflicts of interest:

"It all has to do with openness, accountability and transparency. This whole area needs to be ironed out."