Posted: 10/05/09 12:34
by Dave Mindeman
You can see where this is going. Pawlenty says we have to find a way to keep the Vikings in Minnesota. The Vikings indicate they will NOT renew their Metrodome lease. Wilf wants a stadium that costs 3/4 of a billion dollars, but only wants $250 million to come from his very successful franchise. He dictates the terms, the Governor supports him on principle, and we foot the bill.
It's going to happen. Sports fans may have a tendency to hate taxes but they also have a willingness to support state money for sports teams over money for the poor and education.
It's an odd thing, but it seems to be the case. How else would we have a new baseball stadium and college football stadium in light of years of budget deficits?
Which brings us to Rep. Tom Hackbarth and his bill to use gambling money to pay the state portion of this new monument to professional sports. He wants to add additional gaming at the horse track and use the additional funds to give Wilf his toys.
Somehow gambling money for a football stadium seems appropriate......
Well, oddly enough, I say do it. Do it now before we get another blackmail job from a rich sports franchise owner. Do it now before we get it another long and protracted debate which will force a deadline and the inevitable ultimatum which will once again move us away from real state business.
And while your at it, Rep. Hackbarth, why don't you tack on an equal share of revenue for education. You remember that? The system of public education that brings real jobs to the state. The system that got the shaft in the unallotment and now has to pay millions of dollars in loan fees.
Now, I realize that priorities favor the Vikings. We'll always have schools but the Vikings might (gasp) leave!
Get this bill passed, shut Wilf up, and let's move on to fixing the budget.
Please.
