After a five-month session, the Legislature will adjourn late Monday without approving a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings, or without having ever really seen a plan for the project.
Rep. Morrie Lanning, R-Moorhead, the chief House author of the stadium proposal, said Monday that there remained road improvement issues with a plan to build the stadium in Ramsey County’s Arden Hills. He also said there remained multiple problems with proposed legislative language that has been submitted – but not yet made public – by the team and the county.
So now it’s on to a special legislative session -- maybe.
The Vikings, despite the problems the project still faces, have made considerable progress. After a long search, the team has found a local government partner to help fund the project – in this case, Ramsey County. The county wants to raise a county wide sales tax in order to contribute $350 million to the stadium.
“It is of course possible if, there is a special session, for this issue to be before us,” said Lanning. “But as I’ve said all along, I’m not going to move forward with the bill until we have a [overall state] budget resolution in hand.
Secondly, he added, the questions surrounding the project – including who pays for as much as $131 million in state road improvements – have to also be resolved. “Both of those things have to happen,” said Lanning.
Lanning said that should the stadium plan be before legislators during a special session there would be “informational kinds of hearings” on the project.
Despite a tentative plan to use $650 million in taxpayer money for the $1 billion-plus stadium, legislators have not yet held a public hearing this year on the project.
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More from Star Tribune
More From Star Tribune
More From Politics
Nation
Florida grand jury involved in Trump documents probe by Justice Dept., AP source says
Federal prosecutors are using a grand jury in Florida as part of their investigation into the possible mishandling of classified documents at former President Donald Trump's Palm Beach property, a person familiar with the matter said Tuesday night.
Nation

Former New Jersey Gov. Christie kicks off 2024 Republican presidential bid with swipes at Trump
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie wasted no time going after Donald Trump while launching his presidential campaign on Tuesday, calling the former president and current Republican primary front-runner a ''lonely, self-consumed, self-serving mirror hog" and arguing that he's the only one who can stop him.
Nation

Florida official says migrants flown to California went willingly, disputes claims of coercion
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration said Tuesday that three dozen migrants whom the state flew from the U.S. southern border to California on private planes all went willingly, disputing allegations by California officials that the individuals were coerced to travel under false pretenses.
Nation
Rapidly growing Denver to pick new mayor amid mounting big-city problems
Denver will choose its next mayor Tuesday in a runoff election between two moderate candidates seeking to lead a rapidly growing city faced with out-of-control housing costs and increased homelessness.
Nation
Drug treatment, wildfire response and new jobs: Oregon Democrats cite bills at risk amid GOP walkout
Oregon Democratic lawmakers stood on the steps of the state Capitol Tuesday and implored Republicans, who have been boycotting the Senate, to return and vote on a number of bipartisan bills that are at risk of dying because of a political standoff that has now lasted a month.