Two weeks to go, will the Vikings get a new stadium?

The Minnesota State Legislature heads into its final two weeks of the current session today. Right now Minnesota is facing a budget deficit of $1 billion which could balloon to $7 billion by 2013. Despite stark budget cut proposals, legislation is going to be introduced to discuss the Vikings stadium issue. House Ways and Means Committee chair Solberg sent a note to DFL and Republican legislators on Sunday to announce options that will start the discussion. In the note Solberg stated that timing is good in the respect that "low interest rates, a good bidding climate and a 40 percent unemployment rate in [building] trades, now is a good time to talk about construction jobs" (http://www.startribune.com/politics/92626709.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUsZ).

The lease on the Metrodrome expires next year and officials with the Vikings have stated no extension would be agreed to unless a new stadium deal is set. It has been reported that that the Vikings are willing to put up a third of the cost. The total bill is being floated around $800 Million. Is this type of investment worth it to the citizens of Minnesota? Has public funding for professional sports team come to an end? What effects will ripple through the economy in Minnesota if the Vikings were to leave for another state? Would the Vikings give up the naming rights money to the State?

Minnesota Bonding Bill: Pork or Good use of money?

Minnesotans, this week our glorious Senate passed $1.2B bonding bill. The bill has moved to the House and could see a vote as earlier as Monday. That is if the State Legislature does not observe President's Day. Many of you already know that Minnesota is experiencing a budget shortfall. The shortfall is so dire that Gov. Pawlenty used unallotment to balance the budget that is now being contested in court. Here is a short list of the critical items that are needed in Minnesota:

• New and upgraded exhibits at the Minnesota Zoo - $21 M
  
• New trails, paving and connecting existing trails – over $31 M
  
• A new volleyball court in Rochester - $5M
  
• A new women's hockey center in Blaine - $1 M
  
• Four new ice rinks in Big Lake, Cokato, Fergus Falls and New Hope - $2M
  
• Regional amateur sports facilities in Marshall and Moorhead - $5M
  
• Campground expansion in Two Harbors - $1M
  

This doesn't even include the millions spent for a planetarium, renovations to a civic center or updates to Arts Center. I understand interest rates are low and it will save the state money to make these update but are these updates really wise while millions of Minnesotans are out of work and trying to make ends meet? The pork barrel spending being proposed is not warranted and to burden future taxpayers with additional debt makes little sense. Or is this the time to spend millions on the items above? The small town I live is struggling to grow and faces mandates to keep its I/I up to code. Mandates that if not met will result in fines to the city. While Hamburg would like to expand and attract new residence and businesses, we cannot because our water/sewer system is tapped out. Any new business or residence can only occur if we improve our I/I ratio. That will cost the citizens of Hamburg over $1M. To put this in perspective, it could lead to an assessment to Hamburg residents in the neighborhood of $5000 or more and that does not include the sewer hookup.

Call your House Representative today to let them know how you feel about the bonding bill. For those in Hamburg, our representative if Rep. Kohls. Rep. Kohls can be reached at 651-2946-4282.

Minnesota State Legislative Session is a foot

The Minnesota State Legislature kicked off a new session yesterday. The session will be interesting as the Democrats look to press lame duck Governor Pawlenty on several issues facing the state. The main push by the DFL appears to be, at least early on, for job creation and higher education. Yesterday the DFL party unveiled a $1 billion public works proposal that has many on the other side of the aisle shaking their heads. A claim by the DFL is that the proposal will add 10,000 new jobs while the Republicans contend these jobs will be only temporary. If what the Republicans say is true about the temporary job creation, why would any rational person vote for such a bill when Minnesota is already facing a $1.2 billion deficit?

When I think of job creation my thoughts drift to sustainable and permanent jobs not temporary work. Granted some of the temporary work may lead to permanent employment but let's think wisely before we through around tax payer money. My hope is that the Minnesota State Legislature will learn from the mistakes of the Congress and the Obama Administration that government intervention is not the answer to sustained growth in the economy or the job market. Yesterday there was an article in the Star Tribune that discussed the windmills that dot the metro area and attempted to answer the question: Why are they not spinning?

While I agree that looking for alternative fuel sources is a good thing, we need to be smart about the choices pursued. The trouble with the windmills is that they were not properly outfitted for Minnesota Winters. That lack of thought boggles my mind. If the Minnesota State Legislature is serious about job creations then craft legislation that opens the door for nuclear energy. I understand that the Carter law has put a moratorium on new nuclear plants and the reusing of spent rods to which I say, "So what." We must take care of Minnesotans first and lead the way for other states to have the courage to stand up for their Constitutional rights as states.

I challenge the Minnesota State Legislature to fight for state rights and enact legislation that opens the way for more nuclear power plants in Minnesota. Previously I blogged about the job creation one new plant brings to a community. Not only will it bring new jobs to communities and Minnesota but it will also bring renewable energy as well. A renewable energy source that is cheaper per kilowatt than solar and wind combined. Does that not make sense? We are able to kill two birds with one stone; we create thousands of jobs and establish a green source of energy.

For those that live in Minnesota, please take time to contact your representative and express your concerns. If you do not know who your representative is start here to find out: http://www.leg.state.mn.us/ Also check back to that website to keep tabs on your representative as I will be. A goal of mine this year is to interject more local politics into the blog too.