When it comes to finding a solution to the almost decade-old problem of a new publicly owned stadium for the Minnesota Vikings, we need to put the "what" before the "when."

As state Senate majority leader, my focus is on finding a solution that gets enough votes to pass. The timing of the vote is a secondary issue.

While Gov. Mark Dayton is focused on a deadline ("It's time to get serious about Vikes stadium," Nov. 13), my goal is working with our caucus lead --Sen. Julie Rosen, R-Fairmont -- to identify a plan that has broad, bipartisan support and the backing of the public.

There are several ideas about how and where the stadium could be built. However, to date I have not seen a finalized proposal, nor has the governor provided specific details on how a stadium would be funded.

The reality is that the governor could call a special session tomorrow to coincide with his timeline, but the Legislature would have no proposal to consider.

If we rush the stadium issue to a special session, we don't have to guess what the outcome will be. We have a glaring example. In 1997, a Twins stadium bill was fast-tracked to special session without sufficient legislative support, and it failed.

It took nine years for a successful bill to come back to the Legislature and pass. By focusing on an arbitrary deadline, we run the risk of repeating history.

That is a risk I do not want to take.

The Vikings are a state asset, and I want to keep them in Minnesota. I am working on a regular basis with fellow legislators (Republicans and Democrats); the governor; business leaders; local elected officials, and the Minnesota Vikings toward a viable solution.

As with any piece of legislation, in order to discover if we have consensus for further action, we need to vet the issue publicly.

When Republicans took the majority in the Senate for the first time in 38 years, we made a commitment to increase transparency and accessibility to the legislative process. One example was our immediate streamlining of the committee structure to make it easier for citizens to participate.

Our commitment to providing clarity and engaging Minnesotans in decisionmaking at the Capitol is no different in this situation.

It should come as no surprise, then, that this past week, we announced two upcoming informational hearings to explore the stadium issue.

• Nov. 29: Senate Tax and Local Government and Elections committees.

• Dec. 6: Senate Tax and State Government Innovation and Veterans committees.

These joint hearings, chaired by State Sen. Julianne Ortman, R-Chanhassen, will be an opportunity for the public and interested parties to offer views. We can have a discussion about possible solutions that fit within the constraints of Minnesota's economic realities.

By allowing these legislative committees to do the work they're designed to do, we can determine how best to proceed.

I'm confident that through public hearings and continued meetings with stakeholders, we'll come to solutions in the best interest of Minnesota taxpayers.

Whatever the final proposal, it will require both Republican and Democrat votes to pass. Stadium politics have always been bipartisan.

This means that the governor will need to lobby DFL members of the Senate and House directly and produce DFL votes for any final piece of stadium legislation.

Building a stadium plan that can pass the Legislature and be signed into law is comparable to the assignment given to a football coach before game day. Everyone needs to agree on the game plan and understand their role in successfully executing it on Sunday.

Just as a team needs a unified quarterback, position players and defense to be successful on game day, we need a unified bipartisan coalition of players to help pass a stadium plan and keep the Vikings in Minnesota.

* * *

Amy Koch, R-Buffalo, is majority leader of the Minnesota Senate.