Politics & Government

UPDATED: Eagan Legislators Vote Against Viking Stadium Bill

The Vikings stadium debate has generated "deep and often emotional" discussion, Daley said.

The Minnesota Vikings are near the goal-line on their drive for a new football stadium in downtown Minneapolis.

The Minnesota Senate voted in favor of its version of the controversial legislation to provide the team with about $350 million in state money to build the $975 million facility, with the city of Minneapolis contributing $150 million, and the team picking up the $475 million difference. ()

Eagan Sen. Ted Daley (R) was one of 28 legislators to cast a vote in opposition to the stadium bill, authored by Sen. Julie Rosen (R). All total, 38 senators voted in favor of the measure.

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Daley, who describes himself as a lifelong fan of the Vikings, said he is opposed to using gambling proceeds to help fund the stadium construction because of the unreliability of gambling money as a revenue source.

"What happens if you don’t generate the $20, $30, $50 or $60 million worth of revenue that you expect, because people just stay away [from gambling]?" Daley asked on Wednesday.

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“We all want to see the Vikings stay, so the question is: How do we work out this funding mechanism that is reliable, a revenue stream that is more certain, and how the debt is going to be paid and how are we getting the best possible deal for the taxpayers?" Daley added.

Tuesday's vote came on the heels of a on its version of the bill. The two bills must now be re-negotiated by a conference committee made of House and Senate members, and one bill created that each group can approve. That process is expected to begin Wednesday.

Like Daley, Eagan Rep. Diane Anderson (R) and Rep. Doug Wardlow (R) stood in opposition to the stadium bill.

They weren't the alone local representatives to vote against funding the construction of a new Vikings stadium. Locally, GOP colleagues Pam Myhra, Mark BuesgensTara Mack and Kurt Bills all cast 'no' votes. Pat Garofalo—who authored a successful amendment calling for the team to contribute more money to the stadium funding—voted in favor of the bill.

Wardlow expressed serious misgivings about the use of gambling revenue to pay for the stadium during the debate on Monday.

“Are we being good stewards of taxpayers dollars and resources by prioritizing a Vikings stadium ahead of so many things when we should be working on tax reform and creating a better business climate in Minnesota?" Wardlow said. “Let’s not build a monument to misplaced priorities, let’s have the courage to step away form the negotiation table and come back and get a better deal."

Correction: An earlier version of this article was changed to correct an inaccuracy. Rep. Pat Garofalo (R) voted in favor of the stadium measure.


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