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April 24, 2012
Vikings stadium bill rises from grave, shambles menacingly toward legislature
Chances of passing a Minnesota Vikings stadium bill this legislative session may not be dead after all: After a state house committee voted to kill the bill last week, the House Ways and Means committee voted to advance it to the full chamber last night, albeit without recommendation. Both the state house and senate could now vote on a bill by the end of the week, a scenario nearly unthinkable a week ago.
Of course, voting on a bill doesn't mean passing a bill. Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk has said he expects twelve senate Democrats to vote for the bill, which likely wouldn't be enough for passage. Over in the house, meanwhile, the bill was revived by attaching the dead stadium legislation to a bill expanding charitable gambling — which would include "tip boards," which are very likely illegal. At the same time, the House stripped out language exempting the stadium funding from a Minneapolis city referendum, which would likely kill it anyway since such a vote would invariably lose — unless a court agreed with Minneapolis R.T. Rybak's argument that city voters shouldn't have any say, because the money would come from a state tax that just happens to go to the city.
Whether this mess can actually pass both the state house and senate is uncertain: The Senate Jobs and Economic Growth committee is currently debating the stadium bill (you can check it out for yourself here), while the house will take it up tomorrow. But for the bill even to have gotten this far, after being given last rites a week ago, shows one thing: Threats work.
So Rybak is basically saying that voters shouldn't have any say in how their money is spent since it is "given" to a source that's not part of the city. Using that logic, you could justify giving it directly to the ViQueens. Oh, wait. They'd have to pay taxes on it.
I can't believe this would pass any test in court.
Posted by Cujo on April 24, 2012 04:39 PM
So Rybak is basically saying that voters shouldn't have any say in how their money is spent since it is "given" to a source that's not part of the city. Using that logic, you could justify giving it directly to the ViQueens. Oh, wait. They'd have to pay taxes on it.
I can't believe this would pass any test in court.
Posted by Cujo on April 24, 2012 04:40 PM
You have a say - you elected Rybak right?
Posted by Hey Cujo on April 24, 2012 05:10 PM
You have a say - you elected Rybak right?
Posted by Hey Cujo on April 24, 2012 05:10 PM
I'm not in Minnesota so it's hard to say if I would have voted for him. But back to the point, I don't think this will stand up in court. Even if it does, I hope people will keep appealing the decision until election time.
Posted by Cujo on April 24, 2012 05:28 PM
Endgame:
NFL owners cheer.
Pols congratulate themselves.
Taxpayers f***ed.
Does this game ever have any other ending?
Posted by Dave Boz on April 24, 2012 08:48 PM
Rybak comes from a long line of Minneapolis Democrats. He's an urban booster who green lights big projects, but truth be told, has little power. Minneapolis has a weak-mayor system of government. The power is in the Council.
Posted by Nathaniel on April 24, 2012 10:14 PM
Anyone who watched the proceedings knows why this passed. Anyone and everyone who could attach their pet projects did. St. Paul got money for Xcel Energy Center and River Center. Apparently adding a ballpark for the Saints was too much. They get all of that without raising their hospitality tax. Merry Christmas St. Paul who, again, sold out Minneapolis. Eventually, Minneapolis has to buckle under this weight.
Posted by wisher on April 24, 2012 10:49 PM