Krinkie: Stop Republicans from backing Vikings stadium

Phil Krinkie, the former Republican legislator, still does not like public subsidies for sports stadiums. Now the president of the Taxpayers League of Minnesota, Krinkie said Tuesday that the proposal to build a new Minnesota Vikings stadium would raise taxes more than $500 million. He called on taxpayers to contact the seven Republican legislators who are helping sponsor the legislation, including authors Sen. Julie Rosen, R-Fairmont, and Rep. Morrie Lanning, R-Moorhead. "After months of rhetoric from GOP lawmakers about not raising taxes, [the Republican sponsors] authored legislation that would pay for two-thirds of a $900 million stadium on the backs of taxpayers," Krinkie said in an email. "These wayward Republicans need to hear from you today! Producing a balanced budget signed by the Governor is job one. Increasing the tax burden on Minnesotans to build a playground for billionaire owners and millionaire players is irresponsible," he added. As a state legislator in 2006, Krinkie was a vocal – though ultimately unsuccessful -- opponent of using taxpayer subsidies to build Target Field, the new downtown Minneapolis home of the Minnesota Twins.