Stadium thread

[PurpleMustReign]

The problem is, he doesn't have the power to actually get anything done.

Right... so why do we have him? Why are we paying him?

[CalVike]

Right... so why do we have him? Why are we paying him?

Checks and balances. The stadium has support and opposition on both sides of the aisle. Appropriations start in the House. This is not the Governor's sole responsibility to make this happen.

[Vikingsfan4321]

Right... so why do we have him? Why are we paying him?

Its not his job. As the governor he is suppose to advocate, lobby, and use is "bully pulpit" to push for various legislation. Your dissapointment should be aimed at the Majority and minority leaders in the house and senate.

[Demi]

Right... so why do we have him? Why are we paying him?

Its not his job. As the governor he is suppose to advocate, lobby, and use is "bully pulpit" to push for various legislation. Your dissapointment should be aimed at the Majority and minority leaders in the house and senate.

Or the Republicans who instead of getting this done on it's own are using it to force what they want in other areas. Despicable.

(He can also veto stupid legislation that's passed as he already has on a couple occasions)

[Vikingsfan4321]

Was trying to keep it political neutral.

In this case, it would seem that the republicans are trying to leverage other things in order to support this bill. Which is what all politicians do with every piece of legislation. So if you want to put pressure on your republican representatives do so, but bear in mind that BOTH parties do this with ALL kinds of legislation.

[Demi]

Yes, leverage, but there's usually give and take. Not "Give us the tax breaks on businesses or we don't give you the votes". They did the same thing last year on the budget, shutting down the state and refusing to budge an inch unless they got exactly what they were asking for.

[The Breeze]

Man....I feel frustrated for you guys up in Minny. As someone stated earlier in this thread if they had saved/invested the profits from the metrodome they wouldn't be in this position. Hard to imagine any state saving money as opposed to spending it....but if they manage to put politics aside and get this deal done it might be wise to include some provision that requires a portion of the profits from a new stadium to be put into a fund to ensure the ability for renovation and/or relocation down the road.

What a crappy situation to have the Vikings in the middle of....as if anyone didn't know that.

[CalVike]

http://m.twincities.com/twincities/db_2 ... d=wJcGQOYB

"We're growing concerned that they're going to run out of time to get a stadium bill negotiated that works for all parties," said Lester Bagley, Vikings vice president for public affairs and stadium development.

"The problem is it not only has to go to a vote, it has to go to negotiation to put a package together that works," Bagley said Monday, April 30. "It would be tragic if politics and inaction brought this whole deal down."

[PurpleMustReign]

http://m.twincities.com/twincities/db_2 ... d=wJcGQOYB

See?? SEE??? It isn't going to get done. Stupid politicians.

[dead_poet]

Whoa....open air? What? NOW? What?

Majority leader Matt Dean went to #Vikings and said open-air plan was only way GOP will get votes to pass it. There's your "secret meeting."

Two sides to every story, no doubt, but this fits the pattern of everything we've seen on #Vikings stadium issue: stall to avoid decision.

Again, the #Vikings would love an open-air stadium. But they took the other fork in the road so long ago it's a moot point in this session.

Tom Pelissero on Twitter

[Thaumaturgist]

Whoa....open air? What? NOW? What?
Tom Pelissero on Twitter

It's no wonder nothing gets done.

[CalVike]

@PatKessler: MNGOP abandoning negotiated #Vikings stadium bill that #mnleg is prepared to vote on.
Now including project in bonding bill.

@PatKessler: MNGOP says state should pay for #Vikings stadium infrastructure only; that's about "20%-25% of total construction cost".

@PatKessler: New MNGOP #Vikings Plan: State should pay for only the infrastructure "from the turf down".

Pat Kessler WCCO on Twitter today

[PurpleMustReign]

Whoa....open air? What? NOW? What?
Tom Pelissero on Twitter

IDIOTS!! Blast the #### off the face of the earth. They don't deserve the same air that we breathe.

[dead_poet]

####. What the hell is up with this last minute dog-and-pony ####? Seriously? SERIOUSLY?

[dead_poet]

Warning: read this in a padded room with no objects around that could be thrown.

GOP leaders called for shrinking the proposed $400 million state contribution by an unspecified amount, eliminating the stadium's roof and paying for it with state general bonds rather than tax money from an expansion of legal gambling.

The proposal earned withering scorn from Dayton even before the GOP unveiled it. The Democratic governor called a news conference to blast Republican leaders after hearing third-hand of what he called "secret meetings" with the Vikings. He described their proposal as "fooling around" and demanded up-or-down House and Senate votes on the original plan.

"Vote on the proposal that's been worked on for the last eight months, that's before the House and the Senate," Dayton said. "That's been vetted by seven legislative committees, and that is a sound package, has been worked out, has support of the Minneapolis City Council and the Mayor, and is a go."

Vikings vice president Lester Bagley denied the team worked covertly with Republicans to craft an alternative. He said team officials merely provided information at the request of House Majority Leader Matt Dean and said that shouldn't be seen as an endorsement of an open-air stadium.

"The time to consider the site or the design has passed," Bagley told reporters. He added, "Make no mistake: The Vikings stand with the agreement we negotiated."

Full stupid article: http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/Gove ... ward050112