MPR Special: House hearing debate and vote on stadium liquor tax

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MPR’s live coverage of Minnesota House debate on bill and vote on S.F. 20, a bill to repeal the 2% sports stadium commission liquor tax on on-sale liquor in the seven-county metro area. Includes conclusion of debate and subsequent house vote.

Read the Text Transcription of the Audio.

(00:00:00) Well Gary, the House Began debating a bill to repeal the 2% backup Stadium Liquor tax about three hours ago an out about 20 minutes to three and they have gone through a number of amendments the most significant of which was won by representative Bill Schreiber that would let the stadium commission have until the 25th of April to sign the lease agreements and get everything set for the downtown Minneapolis Sports Stadium if the lease agreements and so forth were not all in place by the 25th of April the commission would be able to reconsider its decision to build in Minneapolis. Probably it would decide either not to build a stadium at all or it would decide to build in Bloomington. The other part of the Schreiber Amendment would lift the on sale liquor tax from the entire seven-county metropolitan area and have it applied just to the city where the stadium was to be built. Also the commission could Levy a hotel-motel tax in that. The amendment was defeated by a fairly close vote 72 59 and one of the members who did vote to against the amendment just got up on the house floor a few minutes ago and said, he'd like to reconsider that vote. He made that motion and that is what the house floor members are debating right at this time. The amendment is of course supported by representative Bill Schreiber from Brooklyn Center. It is opposed by representative or a Pharisee the chief author of the repeal Bill and here is one of the supporters of the amendment representative KJ McDonald and independent republican from (00:01:36) Watertown costs for that site. Now I I personally would have preferred the Bloomington site. I was not getting all of those my likes of satisfied either in the Minneapolis area the Minneapolis site, but it seems to me that our reconsideration of bringing this back should be based on whether or not the commission that we created did its job adequately and properly I suggest that a did. And on that basis alone, we should reconsider as it really is this the time to spurn the work of that Commission. I think it should be reconsidered and I asked your vote for reconsideration. Is there any further discussion mr. Knickerbocker? (00:02:19) Jerry Knickerbocker the House GOP caucus leader. (00:02:24) I'm going to vote to reconsider and this particular Amendment. Not so much for what it says, but for the reasons that we can't afford as a legislative body to spend time and effort and energy on additional Stadium bills with additional proposals and different variations of schemes in the respect of standing committees. I think it would be much wiser for this body to vote to reconsider put the amendment on the bill send the bill to a conference committee and hash it out there. I think there's a sentiment on this floor. to vote for a Bloomington site and I've got some problems with this particular Amendment because it doesn't hone in on that direction in terms of directing the stadium commission to make sure a stadium gets built in some fashion out and Bloomington. That's my own personal bias in my own personal feeling about where a stadium site ought to be and I think that's probably true of a lot of the members on the floor. My concern is that we addressed that issue at least in terms of this particular Amendment or we may not have a chance to address that at all. And I guess I'd rather have the issue being hashed out in a conference committee between the house and the Senate then not have the issue ever back before us again and never have the opportunity to direct that commission to pick a Bloomington site. Mr. Pharisee those GOP floor leader (00:04:05) Gerry Knickerbocker and the are a (00:04:07) Pharisee somewhat clear in our minds. About the time that has been spent in this legislature on this kind of proposal. It is not legislation that has been asked for by the people. It's legislation that has been asked for by some small group. That want to have professional sports in a little fancier setting. Your people did not send you to the legislature asking you to support a stadium. And this business of what time has been taking honor is only a reaction because the people have been saying they don't want this. I'm sick of the time as well. It shouldn't have been here the history 76. What did they try to do? They try to put the Arts on? And send it through here and at one stage, they even had the property tax backing it up. And 77 we had it. Was it a mandate was that a horrendous vote? What was it 70? I'm telling you. It's about time we start listening to what they're telling us. You know take your Amendment do with it as you will again. I have no criticism. Mr. Schreiber or you or any other colleagues. I think you've worked hard you've worked diligently and you try to communicate and I think it's been admirable that you've done that. If you want to go this route fine, but let's get with it and don't think that you're doing this because you're going to save some time for this when it's been brought about by some small group and particularly one man sunning himself in Hawaii. Mr. Patton. Your speaker represented Pharisee yield to a question. Represent a Pharisee (00:06:13) and this is Al Patton from Sartell the chief author of the 77 Stadium (00:06:18) law legislature that will never again talked about Stadium issue. Mr. Speaker. Mr. Patton. I don't think I'm going to be back. So you may be talking about it an awful lot. Mr. And a bow well Mr. Speaker, I think it's apropos at (00:06:35) this Stan inaudible from (00:06:36) Annapolis. He said we're at the end of the pipeline's we're at the end of the freight lines and without professional sports. We're going to be a cold Omaha and I think he hit it right on the head and it just doesn't come from somebody out there in Hawaii. It came from Elite senator. Mr. Lytic, mr. Speaker members very briefly. Every Landing from Stillwater your vote to reconsider don't confuse the type of facility with the leases that are necessary and don't confuse the location with the type of leases because without leases from three major league teams, we're not going to have a facility and I believe that that's exactly what the Schreiber Amendment addresses itself to you seen an opportunity for us to try and decide how to finance this and it wasn't successful. There are two other bills in that we're going to discuss in the future the deal with different types of financing financing belongs with the stadium commission who have worked with all three teams to find out what types of leases would be acceptable and if you think you know better than the stadium commission, which is worked for 18 months don't vote to reconsider. And if you don't think the twins are going to leave the Vikings are going to leave. Just remember the twins came to us from Washington DC a city that lost a second team that went to Texas Milwaukee lost his team and it took him six years to get it back. So if you want to call their Bluff don't vote to reconsider and consider that the owners of both of the organizations that wins and Vikings are nearing retirement consider. You're an owner of one of those teams and you can sell the team in Minnesota with an existing Stadium or you can sell your team. If it goes to Phoenix or to Denver other places count up the number of seats count up the revenues and decide what you're going to get is an owner. So you want to call the bluff vote against reconsideration. Is there any further discussion? hearing none The clerk will take the role on the vote to reconsider the Schreiber Amendment. Now this is a (00:08:49) vote that would allow the house members to once again vote on the Schreiber Amendment. It appears that the motion to reconsider looks like it's going to succeed. Although I everyone I'm going to just vote. There's no point in making any. Any guesses because we'll find out in just a matter seconds earlier this afternoon representative. Very pleasant who's been pushing the Bloomington site indicated that he would not offer such an amendment on the floor this afternoon, but would rather take up a couple of Bloomington site (00:09:18) bills to eyes 61 days the motion prevails (00:09:24) 72-61 (00:09:25) driver (00:09:27) motion to reconsider the Schreiber Amendment and now representative Schreiber is once again going to offer his (00:09:32) Amendment as amended by the Swanson Amendment and ask for a roll call vote. Schreiber moves to place his Amendment with the Swanson Amendment on it. And he asked for roll call vote. I see 15 hands. There will be a roll call vote. Mr. Schreiber. Mr. Speaker Members First of all, thank you for reconsidering this and perhaps. We can resolve this issue once and for all I think we went through the amendment before it's very simple. It opens up the selection process for a stadium site after April 25th, 1979. It repeals the 2% Metropolitan Liquors tax effective, July 1st, 1979 and provides a backup tax on the communities in which one Community or more than one community of that be the case or the stadium is located and that tax would be a 2% on sale liquor tax and a 2% hotel-motel tax. It's a I think a very clear bill in an excellent compromise so that we don't have to spend the balance of this session debating Stadium proposals. Is there any further discussion mr. Hallberg? Mr. Chairman (00:10:53) chuckle Berg from (00:10:54) Burnsville, excuse me, mr. Speaker. I have been one of Representative Pharisees votes for repeal. And I've listened for three hours to the debate and I think with an open mind, I guess that I'm persuaded that that this is my only chance yet to support the stadium. And therefore I'd like you to support schreiber's Amendment if it's defeated, I'll support Pharisees repeal Bill. The reasons aren't very different when I said before it leaves it open. I think comment has been made that there's a feeling in this chamber that we should adopt the Bloomington site. Why don't we pass Senate file 20 is it was and come back with a bill that adopts a Bloomington site takes care of the problem. Why are we putting it off? We are responsible for whatever any commission we appoint or cause to be appointed. We are responsible for the decisions in any money. They spent let's accept that responsibility. Let's clearly consider a bill. We're not going to save any time with this mesh. It's going to go to conference committee. Any decision is going to be made is going to be made in conference committee. We've back here debating it. We're not going to achieve any saving of time not going to get anything done by pushing it off. What we will do is cut off public input public input that can occur in a house committee. And in a senate committee that can separately consider a bill and can bring out a Bloomington bill that makes sense that financially make sense and make sense to the communities effect. I urge you to vote this down. your Casserly (00:12:36) Jim Casserly from Minneapolis. (00:12:38) I don't know if I've ever had an issue in this body which has received so much public input. I think that I've missed my calling maybe I should have been a profits because I think he said about two and a half hours ago that we would be hearing about this issue and we're going to hear about it again and again and again, we've already been threatened with committee hearings for a bill that was turned down several times over the last four or five years, but apparently that message doesn't get through either not only point out that mr. Green Fields predecessor who had a very distinguished career here of for a number of years didn't seem to have such a terrible time supporting. This bill was a co-author of the of the commission and voted for its passage three times and managed to survive successfully doing it. (00:13:28) Mr. Green Fields predecessor was of course Martin Sable the former speaker of the house and now the representative from the fifth. National District in Minneapolis Julie Swanson (00:13:41) nobody except the Minneapolis Chamber as put this together. They haven't discussed it with anybody and you know, what effect the compromise is really going to have to you know, what effect that really has if you read your papers yesterday. It said that the stadium commission is ready to sign a package with Calvin Griffith. That's what it said. It also means that as soon as they can sign this package. They can sell the bonds. If you put this compromise on and we go to conference committee. There won't be an opportunity for Bloomington because while we're in conference committee, the bonds will be sold. That's what this game is all about and nobody said that yet today. But the only thing holding back the stadium commission today from selling the bonds is they didn't have a signed contract with Calvin Griffith, but in the paper yesterday it indicated they were ready to sign. So if we don't put together a conference committee for takes a week and yet they signed the package with Calvin Calvin tonight tomorrow, they can sell the bonds and there is no opportunity for Bloomington. This is a stall technique. It's no compromise, especially for the Bloomington site. So do what you will but before we informed. Be fully informed what it does, please vote. No, mr. Campy Mr. Speaker. I wonder if representative Schreiber would yield? First of all, mr. Speaker representative Schreiber does your Amendment preclude a dome stadium or included dome stadium or Mr. Campy at doesn't even relate to a dome stadium. The the language is in the existing law relating to a dome stadium and it tells the stadium commission how much money they can spend for particular Styles or remodeling of stadiums. Thank you representative. Well, that's what worries me because we're hearing about an energy crisis. I'm really fearful that we're going to have on our hands. A dumb stadium that will take the energy from 42 thousand homes equivalent to 42,000 homes. For utilization of perhaps one or two games. I'm really concerned over the fact that many other times in the past. We've built stadiums to attract teams. I think representative Pharisees well aware of Midway stadium in st. Paul that was built for a professional sports team and it's sitting there on occupied. It's not being utilized in the residents in the city are still paying off the bonds. So I'm very leery of making a commitment. And I submit that's all this is really is an open-ended commitment because it still may be in Downtown Minneapolis. It still may be a dome stadium and I'd like to know exactly what we're getting for the Public's money. When I vote on something I submit here. We do not know what we're going to get. Mr. Peterson (00:17:22) speaker Rod Cyril hammering for a little order Bill Peterson from city of Bloomington (00:17:29) Prospect of a steamroller and I think this does get close to very close to something like blackmail when we're being told this team is going to move. If you don't do things our way. We're going to pick up our Marbles and go elsewhere. I think it's important that we have Developed and that the Vikings have developed one kind of resource that they can't take the Omaha or Phoenix or anywhere else. And that is we have a big league audience a big league. Constituency if you will and that will that is the basic resource that will continue to provide what we need for Big League Sports. I think if you I urge you not to be taken in with the with that Steamroller. And I urge you if you had the guts to say no before did you tell them nuts again and vote? No on the Schreiber Amendment? Mr. (00:18:38) Pleasant this is Ray Pleasant from Bloomington the man who got up a few hours ago and said that he wouldn't offer a Bloomington site, but would consider it in his Urban local Urban Affairs committee next (00:18:52) week whether or not Bill relates to one place or the other It's going to be kind of. dirty Amendment because I had hoped that we could keep it on this issue only but in order to resolve that issue, I'm going to ask the page to come forth in run copies. this particular proposed amendment And that will pinpoint it to the Bloomington site so we can get that issue. Over with take both sheets Johnny. (00:19:37) So now we've seen a change in tactics by representative Pleasant. He's now going to offer the specific Bloomington location (00:19:44) Amendment Schreiber Amendment. Then I think that we need to discuss that particular issue here. But as I indicated earlier that had not been my intention and Mr. Speaker. I apologize for the four minutes in. But if the if the clerk would look at the part where my name is on it indicates the site and location as in statute. It which these Sports facility Commission. We'll make a selection. Are you offering an amendment to the Schreiber Amendment? Mr. Pleasant doll. What I'm going to do. Mr. Speaker is indicate what that is, and then I'm going to ask the body to vote down the Schreiber of amendment and that'll give the page time to run copies off and then we will submit that particular Amendment to the body. But what I'm indicating to you. Is that the sports facility commission was given the power to select a particular site? He and by changing the verbiage in the law at the present time to more Metropolitan Sports area as indicated on the slip that will pinpoint that the designs will be considered only at the Bloomington site. So in that manner, mr. Speaker, what I'm suggesting is to the body to vote down the Schreiber Amendment and I'll follow with this particular Amendment after the Schreiber. Is there any further distr peeler (00:21:33) Jim peeler from st. Cloud what we've seen here this afternoon is first the defeat of the amendment by representative Schreiber then a vote to reconsider that Amendment and now a statement by representative very pleasant that if the Schreiber amendment is voted down he will offer the specific Bloomington site Amendment. This is Bill Dean now from Minneapolis. (00:21:57) Mr. Speaker members of the body. you know, it's been said that the legislature is blackmailing are the teams have been blackmailing the legislature that that somehow the threat of leaving. Has forced the legislature to make all these great concessions to the teams to give them what they wanted. I think in the words of Representative Peterson, I asked you whether 30 year leases are blackmail. Thirty Year leases, that's one of the stumbling blocks why we don't have a stadium under way now. I asked you if the removal of a lucrative 90% concession Revenue which the twins had and which the state of meant the City of Minneapolis had to offer the twins back in 1955 to get him to come here whether the removal of that is blackmail. Whether the highest the highest rents being asked anywhere in the country for a publicly build Stadium the highest ticket tax our user tax anywhere that I know of in the country, whether the tightest law regarding a contract with the teams that makes it questionable as to whether the teams can can come out in the black after they do sign these leases whether that's blackmail. It's not blackmail. It's simply a hard-headed business desire to to get the best possible deal on the part of the team's but at the same time a loyalty to this area that makes them want to stay here and want to continue doing business here in this area. This is your last chance to save professional sports vote up the amendment. Any further discussion? Mr. Norman? Mr. Speaker and members of the House. I like to rise in favor of the Schreiber Amendment because I think that it's a way of trying to compromise and honor the process that was set into motion. And I think I'd like to draw to draw a parallel between this and other situations where the state has reneged on the process. We all realize that there are 1100 Community College teachers striking out there. There are 36,000 students who may lose spring quarter because basically the teachers feel that twice the legislature reneged on keeping a promise to keep binding arbitration. We pull the pins out from under them the same thing is happening here. We gave a commission opportunity to follow up a process to make a decision on our behalf, and I'm inheriting it I had nothing to do with that decision. But now we're pulling the pins out from under them once again, and I think we should bring this kind of process to its conclusion and accept the responsibility that we've delegated. Any further discussion, mr. Fritz, mr. Speaker just Parliamentary inquiry is it possible to amend schreiber's amendment to accept only the Bloomington site? I suppose as possible. I don't happen to have the language. Anything is possible. Is there any further discussion on the Schreiber Amendment? Mr. Hallberg point of parliamentary inquiry is is amendment of schreiber's amendment proper after a motion to reconsider his carried. Yes. Let's try her mistress will be crushed and I would hope that we could go to just a minute. Mr. Shriver. I think the issue has been been debated. Well there are those Among Us that feel very strongly about a site those Among Us that feel very strongly about the design of a stadium that's difficult to determine with this larger body. Now certainly one the Metropolitan Waste Control Commission bills the sewage treatment plant. We don't debate where the site is or what the design is and we don't look at their energy considerations. We leave it up to that commission to determine but we do put bonding limits on them. And what we're doing is putting cost limits on the sports facilities commission. This has been thoroughly debated I think in past sessions, let's allow this the sports facilities commission to go on with their work if they can't have the contract signed by the 25th of April that allows this amendment would allow them to open up the process. And consider Bloomington or any other site as well. (00:26:54) Representative Bill Schreiber from Brooklyn Center. Incidentally, the Schreiber amendment is the position that is favored by Governor Qui here. Again is very (00:27:02) pleasant to I would ask for you to turn to it. online 32 and after the word and its determination on design and I would move to amended to insert the following words. shall construct within the sports area But you pardoned afterward location. Exciting construction shall be within the Metropolitan Sports area after the word location is the clerk have the amendment. There's a clerk had they've been (00:27:49) I think although I'm not absolutely certain that the definition of the Metropolitan Sports area is the area in (00:27:56) Bloomington Anders members of the body (00:27:59) which includes the Mets stadium the unit Papa SportsCenter (00:28:02) tied it down to the situation where site is the determining Factor as far as the body the way I'm reading it. The proposed amendment that I have to the Schreiber minute before you specifically pinpoints the Bloomington area as being the site for reconsideration on April the 25th 1979. I'm not particularly happy with that particular language, but it seems to be the best way that we can solve the particular issue at this particular time. And therefore I would ask for you to support this amendment to the Schreiber Amendment if you want to attach the Schreiber Amendment, but basically I'm still an opposition to any amendments to the Senate file 20. Is there a further discussion? Mr. Schreiber speaker. I really don't have any opposition to that Amendment it provides for something definite to happen. And if that's exactly what the house or the body here would like that's fine with me. I think the concern and offering this amendment was that we reach some type of compromise. So we do not have to address the stadium issue during the balance of the session and this is an opportunity by which we can do that. Are you as the main author accepting? Why don't why don't we vote on on the pleasant Amendment rather than just accepting it is there any all right? Mr. Pleasant? Mr. Pleasant asked for 15 (00:29:43) hands. That's why I roll call vote in hands. There will be a (00:29:47) roll call on the pleasant Amendment to the Schreiber and management. Is there any further discussion? All right, just a minute the chief clerk feels. We have a problem with the amendment. Mr. Pleasant. Let him read it back to you. Pleasant is moving to Amanda Schreiber and men that is follows on page 2 line 32. After location insert shall be within the Metropolitan Sports area. That is correct. (00:30:24) No, the people at the front desk are conferring over the amendment by representative Pleasant that would essentially require that if the sports facilities commission makes another determination after the 25th of this month to build a stadium that it must be in Bloomington there really wasn't much other alternative open to the commission. Of course, this would simply make certain that it would be in Bloomington and as a representative Schreiber indicated, he didn't have any opposition to it trying to try to solve this parliamentary Wrangle over it now Chief clerk said (00:31:02) Burdick. within the Metropolitan Sports area Are you moving? You're moving that Amendment? Yes, Miss. Peter Pleasant moves the amendment. Is there any further discussion? Mr. Peeler? Mr. Speaker members of the House you maybe we're getting down to the Bare Basics of what everyone wants to do and that's move it to Bloomington. But I guess I raised the question as to whether we are going to set here as a body and say that it will be in one place and one place only irrespective of the fact. That what we have come out with as a design and I say we I guess in the general terms of the commission as a design may not work there. What may or has come out because of the time that's been spent on it? But we're getting down to is to say that it will be Bloomington and Bloomington only. Part of the reason that the Schreiber amendment is before us. Is from the standpoint that it allows it to go to Bloomington if it does not work in the downtown site. It doesn't say it shall go there. Nor does it say it shall going downtown, Minneapolis? It allows for that option. The proposed amendment before us right now says it shall be Bloomington. Mr. Speaker, I guess I can't believe that Steamroller I guess to use that term effect. That's attempting to be run here. I urge you to vote against the pleasant Amendment. Mr. Patton. Mr. Speaker with author of the amendment, please yield to a question. Mr. Pleasant yield. Mr. Speaker members of house represent Pleasant. We're in statute. Do we have a definition of the Bloomington site where it says Metropolitan Sports area in the definition section of the law. So how many sports areas do we have in the metropolitan area? Mr. Speaker. I'm referring to this chapter of law which when it was passed as you well know that particular area was defiant. In other words, there's one sports area in the metropolitan areas that correct. That is true Bloomington. That is true. Thank you. Is there any further discussion mr. Greenfield? Thank you. Mr. Speaker. I would just like while I have problems with the Schreiber Amendment and I would rather see Senate file 20 go out clean. I do strongly support. Representative Pleasant Amendment the city of Bloomington and the people of Bloomington want the stadium the people of Elliot Park in the people of Cedar Riverside can't afford to have the stadium and don't want it. I think we can achieve a lot if we must amend this bill in this way. I find this far preferable to leaving the options open if there's sentiment in the seems to be sentiment to put the stadium in Bloomington, let's say so mr. Caspar Lee. Mr. Speaker the I guess everybody understands that this is the Bloomington Amendment, but unfortunately, it's it's just defective. You need to make some more changes. If you're going to do it. You've got to amend for 73.5 81 subdivision 3 because clearly the stadium commission has been directed by our statutes to pick a site within given certain bonding limitations. They are prohibited by the statute from picking the Bloomington site. For the stadium that you're considering the ceiling on it is 37 point 5 million. They are prohibited they've already passed on it and they can't do it again. Unless you start messing around with the bonding and increasing some of the other things the amendment is defective on its face and I suggest that if you want to do it correctly that you might have an amendment drafted and we could have done this several hours ago. Mr. Pleasant, mr. Speaker represented Casserly. That was my points early hours of go saying that in the committee was the proper place to do that type of activity. It is so happens that section 4735731, which I think everybody have copies on their desk. Now. I'm going to move that onto the minimum on the Schreiber of minute also and as I indicated quite clearly when I started procedure that you know, it's going to be sloppy and it's going to be dirty, but it's going to be effective and it's going to address the issue. Are you offering another amendment? Mr. Pleasant? I think we've already made the motion on this one. So that's correct. So I well I think we can only have one amendment to an amendment at one time as my problem unless you want to adopt it as part of it. All right, is there if there's no further discussion? We will have the the clerk will take the role on the pleasant Amendment to the Schreiber Amendment, (00:36:33) right? And once again, this is the amendment that tells the sports facilities commission to put the stadium in the city of Bloomington if the lease arrangements and so forth cannot be set by the 25th of this month the vote appears to be closed. And we'll have the results here in just a minute this debate on the repeal of the stadium liquor tax began three and a half hours ago. There hasn't been a whole lot said about the stadium liquor tax has been an awful lot said about where the stadium should be located and a whole lot said about whether or not the sports facilities commission should have another crack at it. (00:37:15) They're being 63 eyes and 69 day. The amendment is not adopted. (00:37:23) So these specific Bloomington Amendment to the Schreiber Amendment goes down 69 263. No, mr. Schreiber. Once again on his motion for his amendment (00:37:35) is just an example of the amount of time that we're going to spend on this issue unless we adopt this amendment get into conference committee get a an agreement between the house and the Senate as to how this Stadium issue is going to be resolved and be done with it for the session. Mr. Rostov, mr. Speaker members. I've sat here all day and heard people say I'm for this room against that I don't give a rip about either site. I don't think the state belongs in this business and we had a vote the amendment down and vote for the bill and get out of the business. Is there any further discussion to the Schreiber Amendment? If not, the clerk will take the roll. (00:38:24) Now. This is the same amendment that was defeated by about 70 259 or thereabouts a couple of hours ago. And the motion was made to reconsider that within the past 45 minutes the motion to reconsider it was approved and now we're having the vote on the Schreiber Amendment the Schreiber Amendment would let the sports facilities commission pick another site after April 25th and other things we're going to have the vote total showing up on the board now just a second. When you can hear from the partisan (00:38:58) fans for eyes and 17 days, the amendment is not (00:39:03) adopted. Schreiber amendment was defeated. There's a number of people who are opposed to the downtown Stadium sitting in the gallery here. And that's where that bit of Applause came from. So the Schreiber Amendment goes down for the second time. And as I understand if I recall house rules a motion to reconsider cannot be made twice. So that should be it for the Schreiber Amendment representative. Pleasant is now offering his specific Bloomington amendment. I believe let's go down to the floor and see what representative Pleasant is up (00:39:43) to Schreiber Amendment, but on second thought Speaker. Yes. I will take it up in committee. Mr. Pleasant is withdrawing the amendment. We now have the Pharisee bill Senate file 20 before us. I'll mr. Speaker and members of the House. I'm not going to I think it's all been said at least twice whichever way it wherever you feel. I think you got to vote. You understand the issue pretty clearly. Obviously, I'd look with appreciate your support. Let's have a vote up or down. Mr. Annabelle, but Mr. Speaker, I haven't been speaking all afternoon on this bill. I only said a few words. I can only say this coming from Minneapolis being in this legislature when we passed this legislation and that it's like going to a funeral. We're on the road to bury the Vikings and the twins and this is a good way of doing it any further discussion. (00:40:56) The debate has finally ended on the stadium Bill and we're having the (00:41:01) vote (00:41:03) right now the house began this debate at about a quarter to three to forty or thereabouts. And the final vote is now being taken. The members are quickly pushing the buttons. It looks like it's going to be fairly close, but I think it will pass we'll find out in just a minute. The house members rejected twice and attempt by representative Bill Schreiber to give the sports facilities commissioned a second chance to pick another site. They turned down a number of other amendments as well. Talk about them in a minute. Now, we're going to get the announcement from the house Speaker Rod Serling on the result of this (00:41:45) vote. They're being 71 eyes and 63 days. The bill has passed is tile agreed to There you have it (00:42:03) there you have it. The house has passed by voters 71 263 the bill by representative Ray Pharisee repealing the 2% backup liquor tax. The bill is in very similar form to that which was passed by the Senate around the second week in March or thereabouts will now go back over to the Senate and the Senators will have to decide whether to accept the bill as it sits with just a minor amendment that was put on in committee or whether to call for a conference committee at the conference committee. It is possible that some additional Arrangements could be made for putting the stadium in Bloomington or forgiving the sports facilities commissioned a second chance to rethink its decision of December 1st to build a stadium in downtown, (00:42:52) Minneapolis. Not quite certain what the house members are applauding at this (00:42:58) point. This is the longest floor session that we have seen on the house floor this year lasting. Well since two o'clock four and a half hours almost with three and a half hours of that 3 hours and 45 minutes almost devoted to the stadium issue. And so that will conclude our live coverage of the debate from the House of Representatives this afternoon our technical director through the broadcast was Linda Murray and as we indicated earlier funds for Live Events programming made possible with the financial assistance of the Minneapolis Star Potter speak. Yes, Gary Bob before you go away there and sign off. Yes, sir. Let me ask you straight out now. Is this me now that the stadium is dead. Ha ha ha you really think I can answer that question. No, it doesn't mean the stadium is dead. I think that there will be a resolution probably offered in the Senate to to have either the either let the sports commission rethink its decision or to put the stadium in Bloomington. I know that there's a lot of sentiment both in the Senate and in the house for a Bloomington site and just exactly how they'll accomplish that. I don't know but remember representative. Isn't is going to be taking up Bloomington bills on Monday of next week in his committee and he wants those commit those bills to work their way through the legislative process through local and urban Affairs through the tax committee and back onto the floor. So I think that the Minneapolis stadium has certainly received a setback this afternoon, but the Bloomington Stadium not necessarily Soul so will likely hear more. I think we'll hear more about the stadium that was one of the points that representative Schreiber was trying to make in his argument to let the sports facilities commission have a second crack at its decision that Stadium bills are going to be coming back here year after year after year, as long as there is no new facility. And as long as there is some indication that a team is about to leave or there's a threat that they may leave or that in fact, if the team does leave then there might be an attempt to build a stadium to attract new teams in here. So the stadium has a long history up here. I think this is probably the sixth or You're at the stadium has been discussed and I don't think we necessarily seen the end of it yet. Okay. Thank you very much. (00:45:24) Bob (00:45:26) Bob Potter with live coverage from the Minnesota house on the bill to repeal the liquor tax for the dome stadium in downtown, Minneapolis.

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