Stadium thread

[CalVike]

@PatKessler: Senate leaders say they may take up #Vikings stadium bill for a vote on Sunday; Sen Rosen says she has the votes to pass it.

Tweet by Pat Kessler WCCO

[thatguy]

@PatKessler: Senate leaders say they may take up #Vikings stadium bill for a vote on Sunday; Sen Rosen says she has the votes to pass it.

Tweet by Pat Kessler WCCO

Let's hope this works *fingers crossed!*

[beardedterror]

@PatKessler: Senate leaders say they may take up #Vikings stadium bill for a vote on Sunday; Sen Rosen says she has the votes to pass it.

Tweet by Pat Kessler WCCO

I sure hope so. I really just want this thing to get done, so it's not looming over our heads.

[viking_guy]

get this thing done people.. we want our Vikings!

[CalVike]

All indications are it will be tremendously close, if it passes. If you have standing (live in MN) and are so inclined, call and email your legislators and their leaders. Keep it cordial and civil.

[CalVike]

http://m.startribune.com/news/?id=149329015&c=y

Friday's hearing was yet another sign that political momentum the stadium had demonstrated earlier in the week has slowed. But the project's overall chances are still more directly tied to whether Gov. Mark Dayton, a DFLer and the stadium's biggest supporter at the Capitol, can reach a broad end-of-the-session agreement with Republican House and Senate leaders before lawmakers adjourn in the coming days.

More battles to come, between Gov and House/Senate leaders ... They are going to fight over the end of the session sausage grinding with stadium right in the middle of it all.

[CalVike]

http://m.twincities.com/twincities/db_2 ... d=Ilgd1CIp

The stadium plan emerged from Friday's hearing almost unchanged except for one significant alteration: The "racinos" amendment that was added in committee Wednesday was taken out.

Voting to move the bill forward without recommendation were Republicans John Howe, Geoff Michel, Julie Rosen and Dave Senjem and Democrats Tom Bakk, Ann Rest and Rod Skoe.

Voting against were Republicans Roger Chamberlain, Gretchen Hoffman, Warren Limmer and Julianne Ortman and Democrats Scott Dibble and John Marty.

"This was brutal," said Rosen after the meeting. "I knew this was a tough committee."

[CalVike]

GOP says no stadium vote in House today, still trying for leverage with Gov Dayton on Tax/Jobs bill.

http://m.startribune.com/news/?id=149375135&c=y

Better news: Dems say they have the 34 (half) votes for the stadium they have been asked to put up in the House.

Go! Rock the world! Build It!

[CalVike]

http://m.twincities.com/twincities/db_3 ... d=ohwWXloe

Appropriations bills have to originate in the House, which means the House has to vote before the Senate can.

[CalVike]

@PatKessler: Spkr Zellers suggests #mnleg may not adjourn on Monday, as planned. By law, they can stay until May 21.

Tweet by Pat Kessler WCCO

[PsyDanny]

@PatKessler: Spkr Zellers suggests #mnleg may not adjourn on Monday, as planned. By law, they can stay until May 21.

Tweet by Pat Kessler WCCO

They would like to adjourn soon so they can go home and campaign. But it is hard to ask for votes when you have People's business unfinished.

[PurpleMustReign]

The more I read about all of this, the more depressed I get. These idiots just sit there and say put-downs to each other like 3rd graders. They will ruin this deal yet.
It makes me wonder why we even have a Governor if he can't use his power to actalyl get something done.

[glg]

It makes me wonder why we even have a Governor if he can't use his power to actalyl get something done.

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

[Vikingsfan4321]

Yeah, the governor is doing about as much as a chief executive can do. He is publicly supporting it. Bringing it to the public's attention everyday, and lobbying personally for it. Although I do wish he could do more, I am really happy with how the governor has supported this effort.

[CalVike]

Minnesota nice takes a back seat to cutthroat politics.

http://m.startribune.com/news/?id=149386375&c=y

Signaling how difficult it could be to reach an overall deal, DFL Gov. Mark Dayton emerged from his office Saturday afternoon to say Republicans must compromise or risk having the session implode.

"I learned last summer their view of compromise is doing things their way," Dayton said, referring to the three-week government shutdown. "That's just not going to work this time."

House GOP leaders said action on tax reductions and capital projects were higher priorities for Republicans than the stadium, which they consider the governor's top priority. Speaker Kurt Zellers, R-Maple Grove, said he's not sure that the stadium has enough votes to pass the House, but didn't rule out a floor vote before adjournment.

Sen. David Hann, R-Eden Prairie, said he thinks Minnesotans are falling prey to the emotional frenzy to keep the Vikings.

"I have talked to many fans, and they don't know the details of this plan, and they don't care. They are advocating for something, but they don't have a clue about the details and what that means," Hann said.

DFLers "are making every effort to block everything that is important this year, to say on the campaign trail that the majority couldn't get anything done and they are a do-nothing Legislature," said Assistant Senate Majority Leader Claire Robling, R- Jordan. "It is disgraceful."