Maple Grove Legislators Vote Against Vikings Stadium Bill

Late Tuesday, May 8, the Minnesota State Senate approved the Vikings stadium bill on a 38-28 vote.

After 10 hours of discussion, senators advanced the $975 million plan after including extra fees for parking and items sold at the stadium and other amendments. The vote followed the Minnesota House's approval on Monday of its version of a Vikings stadium bill with a 73-58 vote.

A conference committee made up of members of the House and Senate will negotiate a final bill and get approval from their respective bodies. If approved, the final bill could be on Gov. Dayton's desk by May 13.

Maple Grove Legislators said:

In the House

Speaker of the House Rep. Kurt Zellers (R-Maple Grove) and Rep. Joyce Peppin (R-Maple Grove) voted against the measure. 

In a May 8 statement, Rep. Zellers said in a press release:

"Today 133 members of the Minnesota House debated the Vikings Stadium bill and by a vote of 73-58 approved legislation that provides financing for a new stadium. While I voted against the bill, I gave my word to my colleagues, stadium supporters and Governor Mark Dayton that, despite my concerns, the bill would receive a fair process.

The Minnesota Senate is expected to take up the Vikings issue for a debate and vote by its members on Tuesday.

I will continue to facilitate this process as it moves forward, allowing all parties to resolve differences and – more importantly – better protect the interests of Minnesota taxpayers.

As leaders we rely on our word as currency when we build agreements. It is time to refocus attention on Minnesota’s broader agenda – a competitive economy that will foster business development and job growth throughout the state. I respectfully ask Governor Dayton to work collaboratively with Republicans and Democrats to see the bipartisan Tax Relief and Job Creation Act and the infrastructure/bonding bill signed into law in this session."

At the end of April, Rep. Peppin voiced her opposition to proposed Vikings stadium. “Since my election to the Legislature, I have consistently opposed the use of taxpayer dollars to build stadiums for privately operated professional sports teams,” Peppin said in an to residents.

In the Senate

Sen. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove, also voted against the measure.

"For myself and a lot of other members who voted no it was the reliance on an expansion of state-sponsored gambling," Limmer said, according to a KARE11 report.

What do you have to say?

Do you agree or disagree with how Maple Grove legislators voted in regarding the Vikings Stadium? Why? Tell us in comments!

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