May 08, 2004
MN stadiums bill "dead"
The $1.1 billion Twins/Vikings stadium bill, after squeaking through the Minnesota House Taxes Committee last week, ground to a halt yesterday when the House Ways and Means Committee failed to pass it on a tie vote. Though the bill could be revived before the legislature adjourns May 17 or even in a special session later in the year, it doesn't look likely: House Speaker Steve Sviggum declared the bill dead, and added, "I have no plans to put any efforts into resurrecting this bill. It was given a fair hearing, it was given a fair vote."
The final nail in the bill's coffin, it appears, was opposition to the tax-increment financing plan that would have raised the state's share of stadium costs by kicking back sales and income taxes to pay off construction debts. The Ways and Means Committee had scrapped the TIF plan, replacing it with an extension of liquor and car-rental taxes in the Twin Cities, but Gov. Tim Pawlenty opposed such a plan, and several legislators insisted those taxes should go to help balance the state budget instead.
No real response from the teams themselves yet, except to say they hoped to continue talks, etc. It's likely only a matter of time before the Twins-to-Portland and Vikings-to-San Antonio rumors start up again, though at this point - the Twins threatened to move to North Carolina back in 1997, remember - it's hard to see why anyone would take them seriously. There could yet be a lot of life left in that old garbage bag.
