Politics & Government
UPDATE: Legislature Approves Minnesota Vikings Stadium Bill
On a 73-58 vote, the Minnesota House of Representatives has approved the Minnesota Vikings Stadium bill with several amendments, including one that increases the team's share of the bill.
UPDATE - 12 a.m., Tuesday May 8: How did you legislator vote?
According to photos, Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer (R, Big Lake), Rep. Joe McDonald (R, Delano) and Rep. Joyce Peppin (R, Rogers) all voted in opposition to the bill.
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The Minnesota Legislature is moving closer to passing a bill sponsoring the state's portion of a new Minnesota Vikings stadium.
The bill, passed Monday in the House, including funding sources such as gaming, ticket surchages, and Minneapolis tax dollars that funded the Metrodome and Minneapolis Convention Center to make up for the state and local portion of the stadium. The Vikings have said they will pay for about $425 million.
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As part of this plan however, a Rep. Pat Garofalo (R-Lakeville) amendment calls for the state to pay $105 million less and the Vikings to pay for $105 million more. For complete details of the plan, head to TwinCities.com.
Another amendment passed Monday asks the Vikings to share naming rights dollars with the state of Minnesota, and protects the state if the team is sold to another owner with debt service allotment.
You can also watch the entire discussion on the attached video.
Rep. Joe McDonald, a Republican in Delano, said he's supportive of "creative" ways to keep the Vikings in Minnesota, but did not vote in favor of the bill. .
Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer, of Big Lake, who is set to file to run for the State Senate representing the St. Michael area, has also said she's O.K. with a bill that would keep the stadium financing outside of the general fund and there's ways to cover any shortfall set up by the current financing system. However, she would be more supportive of a so-called Racino bill, which would add a casino to the state's two horse tracks.
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