| For Immediate Release | For more information contact: |
| March 28, 2001 | Doug Champeau (651-296-4305) |
This past week, I introduced legislation that would provide100-percent taxpayer financing for a $500 million retractable-roof stadium for the Twins, a $425 million 70,000-seat football stadium for the Vikings and a $400 million on-campus football stadium for the University of Minnesota Gophers.
April fools!
But no fooling, another baseball stadium bill is before the legislature. Would you support public funding to help build it? I didn't ask that question on my recent legislative survey because I didn't think I'd have to. But the legislature is currently discussing a $300 million stadium proposal (a Senate committee passed the bill) and St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman has proposed a locally financed ballpark for the city of St. Paul. The St. Paul stadium would be built primarily with a tax on food and beverages in St. Paul.
The stadium bill is structured this way. After $150 million contribution from the Twins, the bill provides for a $100 million, 20-year interest-free state loan and almost $50 million more in other state resources. The loan would come from a state workers' compensation account made up largely of contributions from small businesses. Already, some are saying the loan would cost taxpayers millions more due to the loss of interest earnings. This would be similar to how the funding was done for the Exel Arena, the home of the Wild pro hockey team.
The House author of the bill, Rep. Harry Mares, said not a spade of dirt would be turned until baseball gets its financial house in order. I think it would have been smarter for baseball and the Twins to fix their own revenue problems first before coming to the legislature. A majority of Minnesotans said "no" quite loudly a few years ago to a plan to use tax dollars to build a stadium. Will this proposal change their minds? What do you think?
BUDGET RESOLUTION
This past week, the House passed a budget resolution on a bipartisan 75 to 56 vote that sets tax and spending goals for the session. New spending targets are set at $714 million, or a 5.3 percent increase over the last biennium. This doesn't include another $753 million in already budgeted increases, bringing total new state spending to about $1.4 billion. Another $1.5 billion would be used for tax reductions. Committees will set specific spending and tax targets in about two weeks.
The budget targets are very close to those proposed by Governor Jesse Ventura, although the House will place a greater priority on new spending for K-12 education, roads and nursing homes. Individual tax and spending decisions must still be balanced with what will be proposed in the Senate.
TIP OF THE HAT
A tip of the hat to former Albert Lea resident Craig Goldman, son of Pat and Bob Goldman. Not long ago, Craig donated one of his kidneys to a friend who was in dire need of a new one. The friend has since been dismissed from the hospital and is doing fine. Craig, however, was still in the hospital with some complications related to the four-and-a-half hour procedure. The word is he will be okay but I want to recognize his gift and wish him a speedy recovery.
I welcome your input and ideas. Please call me at home at 377-9441 or at the legislature, toll-free, at 1-877-377-9441. My legislative office address is 579 State Office Building, 100 Constitution Ave., St. Paul, MN 55155. My e-mail address is: rep.dan.dorman@house.leg.state.mn.us.
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