Dramatic reversals for Vikings stadium bill
The Minnesota Senate first overturned 18 months of negotiations, then flipped back tonight.
Senators adopted a "user fee" proposal offered by John Howe, R-Red Wing, thanks to a last-minute switch by Sen. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove. The Senate adopted the Howe plan 34-33.
Here was the vote:
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.
Then, minutes later, led by Sen. Jim Metzen, DFL-South St. Paul, the Senate decided to reconsider the measure. After the most impassioned debate of the 9-hour discussion, the Senate returned to the electronic pull tab plan. The Howe plan went down, 30-35, in the reconsideration vote.
Here's the board for that tally:
It may have been the most dramatic 40 minutes of the stadium debate thus far -- only to leave the bill where it started.