Politics & Government

Vikings Near Finish Line: Burnsville Legislators Vote No

The Vikings stadium bill awaits only the governor's signature, in spite of ample opposition south of the river.

Update—Thursday Afternoon

Update—Thursday Morning

One final hurdle for a Vikings stadium remains: Senate passage of a reconciled bill that was approved by the House this early this morning. Once again, Burnsville Reps. Pam Myhra and Diane Anderson voted against the bill.

Find out what's happening in Burnsvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

We have live coverage of that Senate debate and vote, which was expected to start around 9 a.m. However, at 10 a.m. the Senate had yet to convene.

Earlier this week, . Yesterday, it was the job of a conference committee made of members of both chambers to negotiate a workable melding of the bills that would appease the team and the legislature.

Find out what's happening in Burnsvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Around midnight, the committee announced it had reconciled such a bill, and the Vikings were on board.

Then, at 3:30 a.m., after a couple hours of debate, the House of Representatives passed the reconciled bill 71-60.

The Vikings new share of the $1 billion stadium is set to be $477 million, up $50 million from what the team said its cap was earlier this spring. Minneapolis will still pay $150 million, with the state's share coming in at $348 million.

According to the Star Tribune, under the bill, the state will pay its share with revenue from electronic bingo and pull tabs, but in the event those revenues fall short, a series of so-called blink-on taxes would activate, including a 10 percent admissions tax on stadium luxury seats and a sports-themed lottery game predicted to produce at least $2.1 million per year.

 

UPDATE—Tuesday

The Minnesota Vikings are near the goal-line on their drive for a new football stadium in downtown Minneapolis.

The Minnesota Senate voted in favor of its version of the controversial legislation to provide the team with about $350 million in state money to build the $975 million facility, with the city of Minneapolis contributing $150 million, and the team picking up the $475 million difference. ()

Once again, opposition south of the river was strong. Both of Burnsville's senators — Republican Sens. Dan Hall and Ted Daley—were among the 28 legislators to cast a vote in opposition to the stadium bill (SF0702), authored by Sen. Julie Rosen (R). In total, 38 senators voted in favor of the measure.

Tuesday's vote came on the heels of a  on its version of the bill. The two bills must now be re-negotiated by a conference committee made of House and Senate members, and one bill created that each group can approve. That process is expected to begin Wednesday.

To see an official record of Tuesday's proceedings in the Senate, click here.

UPDATE—10:40 p.m. on Monday

After hours of debate, dozens of amendments and , the Minnesota House approved a public subsidy package for a new $975 million stadium to house the Vikings.

The measure passed with a 73-58 vote that split both parties. According to House Research, 40 DFL members and 33 Republicans voted in favor of the measure, formally known as HF1485. However, 37 Republicans and 21 DFLers were passionately opposed to the package.

All but one of the representatives hailing from south of the river voted against the bill. Farmington Republican Rep. Pat Garofalo was a lone voice of support from major cities in the south metro. His local GOP colleagues opposed the measure: Reps. Pam MyhraDiane Anderson, Mark Buesgens, Mary Liz Holberg, Tara Mack, Kurt Bills and Doug Wardlow all voted no.

Rep. Mindy Greiling (DFL-Roseville) and Wardlow (R-Eagan) criticized the bill as a case of "misplaced priorities."

“If we’re going to raise money or taxes of any sort, why doesn’t it go to education or health care or the other things that have been cut or that we owe money to,” Greiling said. “I don’t understand the priority tonight of voting for a stadium that a lot of people will not even be able to afford tickets to go to.”

As it stands, the “People’s Stadium” would be built on the eastern edge of downtown Minneapolis, an area that partially overlaps the current Metrodome site. To get a complete rundown of the stadium deal, go to TwinCities.com.

The Senate is expected to take up its version of the bill on Tuesday. If the Senate approves the measure, a committee made up from members of the House and Senate will need to negotiate a final bill and get approval from their respective bodies. If approved, it could be to the governor's desk by the end of the week.

If approved, it is hoped that the team will take to the field by 2016.

To see an official record of the proceedings, click here. You can also watch the entire discussion on the attached video.

10 a.m. on Monday

After months and even years of debates and discussion regarding a new Minnesota Vikings stadium, it all comes down to this.

The Minnesota House of Representatives debate and then vote on the Vikings stadium issue on Monday. Burnsville Patch will have live video via The UpTake.

The plan going to the floor is the same plan that's been voted down in committee, resurrected, spliced, reshaped, and then finally re-born as the same package that was discussed a month ago. The bill calls for $427 million from Vikings, $150 million from Minneapolis, $398 million from state via expansion of charitable gambling, to build the stadium.

The plan is getting a mixed reviews south of the river.

Sunday night, Burnsville-Eagan Sen. Ted Daley put the question to his Facebook followers: "As we near the close of the 2012 session, we're close to floor votes tomorrow in the House on a new stadium for the Vikings, but questions still remain about its financing mechanism. Dare I ask - what are your thoughts?"

Predictably, responses ran the gamut from vehemently opposed to passionate support.

"No, it's not the role of government to subsidize a private entertainment entity, especially one as financially successful as the NFL," One follower named James Chaffee wrote. "If the NFL wants to walk away from a reliable football market like Minnesota, to a fickle market like LA, over a publicly funded stadium, then let them walk."

Others hewed to the economic argument put forward by the Vikings.

"I would vote yes, the economic impact in the short term that the stadium could provide would help our state's unemployment. Secondly the long term impact with other high level events would showcase the state's tourism industry," said Courtney DeBettignies. "The economic impact that a top level professional team provides to the community has been severly understated. For those feeling we don't need to subsidize professional teams, how about the subsidizing of the agricultural industry, or the credits given to large corporations."

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