July 15, 2005
MN session not special enough for Twins
The special session of the Minnesota legislature ended yesterday with a budget deal following a partial shutdown of the state government, but without approval of the Twins stadium deal, which would require special state approval for Hennepin County to raise sales taxes without a referendum.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty hinted he might call a second special session to deal with the Twins bill - as well as a University of Minnesota football stadium, transportation and environmental funding, and public employee pensions - but also said the stadium issue could wait until the next regular session in 2006 if necessary. This, as you imagine, did not please Twins stadium czar Jerry Bell, who grumbled that construction costs would be higher next year, and that "if we knew there was going to be a special session - not this 'maybe, we might, we'd like to' - that would be enough for us to start some work now and spend some money."
Likely of greater concern to Bell than an itchy wallet finger: The 4-3 majority on the Hennepin County commission that passed the Twins stadium tax might not be around in 2006. Peter McLaughlin, part of the pro-stadium majority, has a good chance of being elected mayor of Minneapolis, and fellow board member Mike Opat says "it's unlikely to me that a ballpark supporter would follow in his seat." Added Opat: "if it doesn't happen this year, I think it's doubtful we would make the proposal again. A lot of it is I don't know how great my appetite would be for it next year." Either somebody's just getting frustrated and making veiled threats, or he was forced to eat too many green beans as a child.
Posted by: henry at July 16, 2005 02:11 AM
