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A former state representative filed suit on Thursday to ban Minnesota senators from getting their new home.
The suit requests that the courts stop the state from designing the building or spending any money on it because of the way the Legislature approved of it.
"This building was authorized in the omnibus tax bill, which is about taxes, not building new buildings," former state Rep. Jim Knoblach said. Generally, authorization for state buildings appears in bonding bills, not tax bills.
That, his legal filing claims, is in violation of the state constitution's 'single subject rule.' Over the years opponents of various laws have cited the rule, which outlines that "no law shall embrace more than one subject," to challenge legislation. Those challenges have succeeded in striking down some laws -- including the controversial 'conceal-carry' law, which was later passed again -- and failed at ousting others.
Planning for the new senate office building is underway. If it goes forward, it would be built on what is now a parking lot to the north of the state Capitol.
The state plans spend about $90 million for the new building and parking ramps. The building itself is expected to cost $63 million to construct.
The suit names the state of Minnesota, Gov. Mark Dayton, the Department of Administration and Administration Commissioner Spencer Cronk as defendants.
