Posted on 04/26/2006 7:31:46 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- The Minnesota House gave the Twins stadium hopes a big lift Wednesday, voting 76-55 in favor of an open-air ballpark that would be paid for mostly by taxpayers.
The focus now shifts to the state Senate, where the proposed increase in the county's sales tax could run into some early trouble. The Senate Taxes Committee, headed by a lawmaker opposed to the plan, will begin its deliberations on Thursday.
The downtown Minneapolis stadium project would cost $522 million -- three-fourths from a higher Hennepin County sales tax -- and would allow the Twins to leave the Metrodome, their home since 1982 and the place where they've clinched two World Series crowns.
"We're overwhelmed by it," Jerry Bell, president of Twins Sports, Inc., said of the vote. "It was more votes than we expected." Bell was in the gallery during the voting and gave high-fives to other team officials when the vote came down.
In the House chamber, one legislator had a baseball jersey draped over his chair and another had a Kirby Puckett figurine on his desk. Outside the chamber, Bell paced like an expectant father during the debate that lasted more than seven hours.
Twins owner Carl Pohlad would be required to put $130 million into the project upfront before the stadium opens and annual payments for upkeep. They expect the building to generate $40 million a year for the franchise.
Even with House consent, there is no guarantee the Senate will pass identical language on the stadium bill.
In fact, the chairman of the Senate Taxes Committee has hinted he'll put forward an alternative financing plan. Sen. Larry Pogemiller, DFL-Minneapolis, has scheduled a Thursday hearing on the bill. His committee is comprised of several lawmakers who have expressed concern with the current bill.
If there are any differences, the House would have to vote again once a compromise is struck.
If the bill passes this year, the Twins say the new ballpark would open in time for the 2010 season.
It's for the chill-ren.
I'm in Minneapolis every other week for work. Looks like I won't be buying anything in Hennepin county anymore since they're gonna raise taxes.
Ha, where *aren't* they big spenders?
They're still letting ya 'pack heat' tho, right?
Minnesota has always been a "generous" state social program-wise that I can remember.
I'd have to check..
This has been in the works a long time..
I seem to recall it being defeated before when put to the voters there.
I could be mixing up a new baseball stadium with this tho too.
Playing baseball outdoors in April, May or October in Minnie a no place is insane. Only a lunatic Dim would have proposed this plan in the first place and only a group of lunatic Dims would approve it.
I think there was an Anoka Co. and Viking stadium proposal that got voted down as well not so long ago?
The current facility is a crying shame. Worst in the bigs.
Would to GOD they were that way ONLY in Minnesota.
I hope it's an outdoor stadium They never should have left Metropolitan Stadium. LOL!
I've never been in the Metrodome..
I went to a few games in the old Met where the Mall of America stands today.
They should just take the dome off ,, flood it, and let it serve as a duck pond and ice rink depending on season. maybe stock some fish in it. ;-)
This has been in the works for years. The Twins lease at the DumptyDome runs out at the end of the season.
I'm sorry to say that Mike Charron voted for it, but relieved to see that my old buddy Ray Vandeveer voted against it.
At least they didn't vote to spend money out of the state treasury for this thing, at least not right away. I'm confident that it will take at least two years for the residents of Hennepin county to state complaining about the unfair tax burden and demand that the funding burden get shifted to the rest of the state.
Right at the moment I'm having a hard time seeing a dime's worth of difference between our local Republicrats and Demohicans.
"We're overwhelmed by it," Jerry Bell, president of Twins Sports, Inc., said of the vote.
Another useless socialist peckerhead pretending he's a capitalist. Hey, Jerry, you want a new stadium, go get a job and buy it.
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