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Plan to lure Delta north is grounded
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Share on DiggThe Minnesota House blocked a vote on a plan to entice Delta Air Lines to move its headquarters to Minnesota as it combines with Northwest Airlines.
Democrats ruled Wednesday that the tax break proposal was out of order when Rep. Kurt Zellers, R-Maple Grove, tried to amend it to a bill dealing with the Metropolitan Council.
The DFL-controlled House upheld the ruling on an 85-46 vote.
House Majority Leader Tony Sertich, DFL-Chisholm, said the proposal is "fool's gold" for Northwest employees who may lose their jobs. Instead, he urged legislators to work with Gov. Tim Pawlenty and present a unified response to the merger, which could leave Minnesota without a major airline headquarters.
"We will continue to work with the governor to save as many jobs as possible for Northwest Airlines -- not as Democrats or Republicans but as Minnesotans," Sertich said.
Northwest chief executive Doug Steenland said Tuesday that the airlines would not reconsider their headquarters location. The combined airline will have its headquarters in Atlanta, where Delta is based. Northwest is based in Eagan.
The proposal from Zellers would offer sales, property and wage tax breaks if Delta brought its headquarters north.
Several legislative committees plan to hold hearings on the Delta-Northwest merger.
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Current state office holders
Governor: Tim Pawlenty
One of only a few prominent Republicans to win a competitive re-election contest in the Democratic sweep of 2006, Tim Pawlenty is widely seen as politically shrewd and naturally likable.
- Lt. Governor: Carol Molnau
- Secretary of State: Mark Ritchie
- Attorney General: Lori Swanson
- State Auditor: Rebecca Otto
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If a DFL legislator would have thought of this first and entered the ammendment it would have passed. Many changes should be made this … read more fall when these people are up for re-election.
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