Transcripts

MARISA HELMS: The Minnesota Twins bill asks the state for $150 million to build a new stadium. The total cost is estimated at $300 million, and the Twins would cover the remaining $150 million. The public funds would come from a combination of sources. $40 million in bonds with money coming from paybacks from the Minnesota Wild hockey team, $10 million in sales tax exemptions for construction materials, and the remaining $100 million would come in the form of an interest-free loan from the state's workers compensation assigned risk plan.

The Twins say they would guarantee that loan. Supporters say this plan is better than the previous two campaigns, in 1997 and 1999. To separate themselves from the bad memories, the Twins have taken a different low key approach to selling their plan to Minnesotans.

Twins Vice President Jerry Bell told about 30 members of the group, Minnesotans for Major League Baseball, last night that the last time the media became obsessed with the issue, and this time, they've avoided that.

JERRY BELL: We've been trying to do this in a more professional way this time. We're not asking people to make all kinds of calls. We're not going on all kinds of shows. But we have been trying to explain our position. We think that the bill stands on its own.

MARISA HELMS: DFL Senator Dean Johnson from Wilmer is carrying the bill in the Senate. He told the group his bill has been well received by fellow legislators and opposition is light. But Tom Goldstein, the editor and publisher of Elysian Fields, a baseball literary journal, says Johnson may be misreading the opposition. He says public opposition may not be as visible now because the new Twins bill flew in under the radar screen. But he says most people are still opposed to using public money for a Twins stadium.

TOM GOLDSTEIN: I don't believe that anything has changed whatsoever, but people just can't keep doing this over and over again. I think they expect that the legislature has heard them loud and clear. And the legislature, unfortunately, at least certain members have decided that oh, no. This is something new, and people feel differently. And I don't think people feel any differently at all.

MARISA HELMS: The bill also faces skepticism, if not downright phobia, from lawmakers. The fallout from the two recent proposals has left political scars, and supporting the bill this session is considered risky. DFL Senator Larry Pogemiller sits on the state and local government operations committee, which is hearing the bill today. He says he generally supports the idea of a new stadium because sports enhance the cultural and social aspects of the state. But he says a new stadium should not take precedence over or dollars from more important policy decisions.

TOM GOLDSTEIN: I think the proposals that have been put together for the Twins is a pretty good proposal. My only issue right now is first things first. And once we're able to take care of the University of Minnesota and transportation and other educational needs, then I'm perfectly willing to deal with stadium issues too. Twins bill author Senator Dean Johnson agrees health care, roads, and other issues should be high priorities, but he points out public money for the stadium would come from a separate workers' comp assigned risk plan, not the state's general fund. Johnson says the bill has a 51% to 49% chance of making it out of the Senate Committee this afternoon. This is Marisa Helms, Minnesota Public Radio.