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@PatKessler: MN Sen takes "user fee" amend off #Vikings stadium bill 1 hour after putting it on.
Dems Cohen, Metzen, Wiger changed fr "yes" to "no".

The length of the votes is crazy too. Once a sufficient number of votes has been cast to ensure the outcome, there is no reason to leave the vote open other than for a vote to be recorded. I can understand why they want to leave the vote open for final votes on bills, but doing so on every amendment offered is ridiculous and wasteful.

Another thing these guys have to get off is this gambling kick. Gambling is legal in Minnesota. Indian tribes have casinos in the state. Minnesota allows a lottery, betting on horses, and probably other forms of gambling. It's just beyond belief that so many legislators are now getting up on their high horses and complaining about "expanding" gambling. The same types of monologues and amendments based on them were offered in the House at yesterday's debate, and from my perspective this is just wasting time. The fact is, the state doesn't want to levy taxes to pay for this, so gambling is apparently the way to do that without peeving off too many special interest groups. But this isn't expanding gambling per se - this is simply altering the flows of money that would probably already be gambled in such a way that it minimizes the impact of money already going to other forms of gambling.

@sencarlanelson: Long Senate debate on stadium bill. 32 of 83 amendments have been acted on in the last 10 plus hours. #rochmm #mnleg

watching now...I realize these people have been at it all damn day and have hours still ahead of them so naturally people are getting tired, but some of these senators aren't very well spoken. You'd think elected officials would have a greater capacity for eloquent public speaking. I just heard a lady refer to some user-fee related amendment as "the gambling thingie".

What the heck does early childhood education have to do with this?

(proposed amendment by DFL Minneapolis - Patricia Torres Ray)

P.S. Can DFL Minnetonka Terri Bonoff PLEASE be voted out of office at the earliest opportunity? How annoying and irrelevant and omnipresent she has been in this debate...

VikingLord wrote:What the heck does early childhood education have to do with this?

(proposed amendment by DFL Minneapolis - Patricia Torres Ray)

P.S. Can DFL Minnetonka Terri Bonoff PLEASE be voted out of office at the earliest opportunity? How annoying and irrelevant and omnipresent she has been in this debate...

Here's an answer, nothing. But here's an agenda ...

@SteveWCarlson: @greatwhitenort They're all putting their programs in for funding from more gambling. #stribpol #mnleg

@johnkriesel: Third reading. No more amendments. #mnleg #Vikings

Me: Yeah!!!

Isn't there a way to shut down some of these Senators who are just spouting off like John Marty (DFL - Roseville)? I mean, he's just wasting time, and lots of it.

Mr. Marty, you pay to play. You don't want to do it, you'll lose the team.

VikingLord wrote:Isn't there a way to shut down some of these Senators who are just spouting off like John Marty (DFL - Roseville)? I mean, he's just wasting time, and lots of it.

Indeed. Talking about how he's received obscene and insulting emails because he's an outspoken opponent of the stadium, and how most people can only afford to go to a game once every five years. Huh? Where did he get that information? I think he just pulled it out of his ####.

For some reason the live feed is no longer working...


wonder if they cut it so they won't be made to look worse

PotGoblin wrote:For some reason the live feed is no longer working...


wonder if they cut it so they won't be made to look worse

I was kind of thinking it was someone's way of saving us from John Marty...

So, what's really interesting to me is there seems to be a deeply held belief by many of the politicians and local minneapolites that the Vikings leaving town is just BS. I've seen a couple quotes now that suggest, "Where would they go?". If that is truly the case, then what is going on makes total sense. The politicos are just trying to use their power to get the best deal possible for the state vs the Wilfs.


If Zygi and Co. are really serious about all of this, keeping the team in minny, and I believe they are, they should broker a tentative deal with another city ASAP. Get the whole thing done on paper and watch how fast these elected people capitulate. At the very least they could leak a very convincing rumor....kinda like what Spielman did to Cleveland during the draft.

They, the politicians, know exactly how much money and how many jobs a new and modern facility would create as a year round venue. They are caught between greed and not wanting to work with a wealthy real estate billionaire from New York.

If the ownership waits until the deal goes bad before looking elsewhere then they are not doing all they can to keep the Vikings in Minnesota IMO.

Rambling Thoughts:
As a school administrator, I appreciate the fact that education, both post graduate and early childhood, was thought of in this bill. Let's face it kids will be around forever and the expanded gaming revenues will be there long after the stadium bonds have been paid. Unfortunately, there will be a 30 year wait on revenues, but the Metrodome was paid off early.

As an ex-Out-state citizen: I am having a hard time listening to the ideas of expanding user fees when there was no discussion about expanding those fees for a light rail. Many out-state families will maybe use that service once every 5 years, when they go to Vikings games. (I believe that was Sen. Marty, as I was listening.) {Doesn't the whole state fund the light rail. -- I know I get more enjoyment from watching the trains run, than a Vikings game.}

MN w/ the Vikings:
The Vikings provide income into the Twin Ciites area. I guess I am fortunate enough to have had season tickets for three years now, and I know I have to pay for gas to get there, food in Albert Lea, and a hotel room at the Hampton Inn in Burnsville. I also bought my daughters winter coats at Dick's Sporting Goods and shop at Kohl's. We, a family of 4, also went to the Mall of America to Christmas shop on a Vikings weekend.

MN w/o the Vikings:
If the Vikings leave -- I can save some money -- because I can stop watching professional football. I can also stop providing revenue to the state of MN.

As a citizen of MN growing up -- I hope the wonderful legislators have some idea of how to replace lost revenue when the Vikings leave.

Pass the bill!

@RachelSB: We just heard from a series of #Vikings stadium opponents. Now #mnleg Senate stadium bill supporters speaking. We're getting close to a vote

Vote happening now!!!