May 16, 2005
Why is this county not like all other counties?
As Hennepin County's Twins stadium bill wends its way through the Minnesota state legislature, it's already managed to piss off some other Minnesotans: Namely, other neighboring counties, who don't see why Hennepin should get to duck a 1999 law requiring referenda for sales-tax increases when they can't. (Note that this is a separate issue from the one noted previously, wherein other counties are complaining that they have to get the legislature's approval for any tax increases.) Seventy-one percent of Hennepin County residents favor a referendum, and 58% say they'd vote against a stadium-funding proposal.
Meanwhile, elected officials within Hennepin County don't seem all that thrilled with the stadium bill either: Most of the Minneapolis city delegation opposes it, and two city councilors have introduced a resolution condemning it, with one, Green Party councilmember Dean Zimmermann, calling it "the most blatant example of corporate welfare that I've seen since George Bush invaded Iraq to fill the pockets of Halliburton."
As for the bill itself, it looks set to pass another House committee tonight, in the rush to get it to the floor before the legislative session ends a week from tonight. Interestingly, this appears to violate the legislature's own rules on committee deadlines, but hey, you can't build a stadium without breaking a few laws.
Posted by: John at May 17, 2005 12:10 PM
Posted by: Evan at May 17, 2005 04:27 PM
