Dayton talks stadium and MA expansion
Gov.-elect Mark Dayton is calling on Republican legislative leadership to indicate now whether they support a new Vikings stadium.
Dayton, who met earlier today with Vikings owner Zygi Wilf and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, says he thinks a Vikings stadium bill will have to pass this session or risk losing the Vikings to another city.
Dayton says he urged Vikings management to put forward some sort of stadium plan so the Legislature has something to base their work on. He also called on GOP Speaker designate Kurt Zellers and incoming GOP Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch to signal whether they will get behind a stadium plan.
"If there's not a willingness in their caucus to really consider this and go to work on it in a collaborative and constructive way,fitting their leadership position, then let's find out now and spare us all. But I'm hopeful that that's not their ultimate position."
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Dayton says he's not going to put forward his own stadium plan. Republican legislative leaders haven't yet signaled whether they intend to push a stadium financing package this session. They say their top priority is to balance the state's budget and focus on improving the state's economy.
Meanwhile, Dayton also criticized Governor Pawlenty and Human Services Commissioner Cal Ludeman for not disclosing how long it will take for the state to enroll in early Medicaid. Dayton met privately with Ludeman earlier today to discuss why it will take until October to implement the transition. Dayton says it could cost the state and hospitals $300 million.
"We're inheriting this mess with no forewarning and with misinformation and failure to disclose information on both the financial side and the operational side. It's extremely irresponsible and I hold Governor Pawlenty and Commissioner Ludeman responsible for every dollar of federal money that we don't receive for this early opt-in from January third until the program commences."
The so-called MA expansion has been a major disagreement between Republicans and Democrats. Pawlenty opted not to enroll in the program but Dayton will enroll in the program when he takes office on January third. Ludeman told MPR News that it takes many months to adjust the system that pays out the medical claims. Dayton says the time frame is unacceptable.