Dayton wants up-or-down stadium vote in Legislature
Gov. Mark Dayton said Wednesday morning that he'd like the Legislature to vote on a Vikings stadium bill, even if it doesn't pass.
On Monday, the House Government Operations and Elections Committee turned down the plan to build a $957 million stadium in downtown Minneapolis. Dayton said he'll keep pushing for it in the next legislative session, although the Vikings said they may not wait that long.
"I share their sense of urgency," Dayton said. "We're so close now, and it ought at least go to the House and Senate floors for a vote, so everybody's on record. And if the Legislature turns it down, so be it. But to have it just die in a committee just because 15 of 133 members are there, for something this significant, I think that's an unfortunate way to have it."
Dayton said that he'd spoken to the League before, and that the NFL had expected the state to reach a stadium deal this year. The Vikings said they may not wait another year.
"I'm initiating a call to Commissioner [Roger] Goodell myself, just to explain the situation," Dayton said. "He ... made it clear to me all along that the league is very concerned about this."
He also played down chances that he'd call a special session for the stadium after the November elections.
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