OPINION | Prosperity catalyst

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The late namesake of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome famously observed that without professional sports the Twin Cities would be nothing more than “a cold Omaha.” Well, we’ve dodged that bullet. Even if the Vikings leave town without getting a new playground, we’d still have three major pro teams, plus the football Gophers, performing in their own publicly-funded facilities. Omaha can’t come close to matching that.Where the Twin Cities don’t measure up to their smaller, warmer Midwestern neighbors, however, is in transit connectivity to jobs. A 2011 report from the Brookings Institution found that our metropolis trails not only Omaha, but also Des Moines, Madison, Milwaukee and Wichita, in getting people to work by bus or rail.We have fewer working-age residents near transit stops and less frequent service than the national average, which is led, surprisingly, by many cities in the West. Continue Reading

Dayton talks up Vikings stadium at union retiree event

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Governor Mark Dayton received a standing ovation during a visit Saturday to the annual “Fun(d)raiser” for the Minnesota State Retiree Council, AFL-CIO, where he emphasized the need to build a new Minnesota Vikings stadium. Dayton was greeted with hugs and handshakes by union retirees in the crowd, many of whom have known and worked with him over his decades of public service in Minnesota.Dayton’s visit to the event at the Sheet Metal Workers Local 10 union hall came just as the Legislature was about to meet for the final scheduled week of the 2012 legislative session. In brief remarks, Dayton commented on the session so far — and highlighted the importance of legislative action to approve construction of a new stadium in the week ahead.“This is a critical week,” Dayton said. “It’s a week we decide if the ‘L’ in DFL means anything.”Dayton clearly was referring to a committee vote in the Minnesota House which voted down the stadium when only one DFL committee member — Representative Mike Nelson — voted in favor. The other DFLers on the committee voted no.“What do we want stand for and what do we want to accomplish?” Dayton asked.With thousands of construction workers unemployed, Dayton said, “this is about jobs and this is about economic development.”He asked the union retirees to contact their state legislators — whether Republicans or DFLers — to urge support for the Vikings stadium. Continue Reading

Wait until next year, maybe

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The consensus after a negative House committee vote was that a “Hail Mary” pass may be about the only chance the Minnesota Vikings have left to get a stadium bill passed this legislative session.Despite the session likely entering its final days, the stadium outcome remains cloudy as the pressure to reach a deal amps up.A very clear message has been sent that next year is too late for a deal, Gov. Mark Dayton said April 19 after he spoke with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Art Rooney II, chairman of the league’s stadium committee, by phone for about 20 minutes.“If there’s a willingness to do it, now is the time,” Dayton said.Goodell and Rooney are expected to fly to Minnesota to meet with Dayton April 20. The governor hopes legislative leaders will also take part. Without a deal this year, Dayton believes the league will have to seriously consider the viability of this market.The meeting would be four days after the House Government Operations and Elections Committee failed to approve a bill that calls for funding a new stadium that would house the NFL team. The April 16 vote was 9-6 with five of nine Republicans voting for the bill and just one of six DFLers.“We can’t pass the stadium by ourselves,” House Speaker Kurt Zellers (R-Maple Grove) said the next day. “This has always been a bipartisan process.”Sponsored by Rep. Morrie Lanning (R-Moorhead), HF2810 calls for a $975 million fixed-roof stadium to be built primarily on the Metrodome site on the eastern edge of downtown Minneapolis. Continue Reading

House committee defeats stadium bill

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A “Hail Mary” pass may be about the only chance the Minnesota Vikings have left to get a stadium bill passed this session.The House Government Operations and Elections Committee failed to approve a bill that calls for funding a new stadium that would house the NFL team. The vote was 9-6 with five DFLers and four Republicans voting against the plan. Five Republicans and one DFLer voted for the bill.Sponsored by Rep. Morrie Lanning (R-Moorhead), HF2810 calls a for a $975 million fixed-roof stadium to be built on the Metrodome site. The team would cover $427 million of construction costs; the state $398 million; and Minneapolis $150 million. The team has played in the downtown Minneapolis stadium since 1982, but team officials say the facility is antiquated and does not provide the needed revenue to remain competitive, nor does it offer a top-notch fan experience.Money from electronic pull tabs, electronic bingo and tipboard games would be used to pay the state’s share of the cost.“Somebody will have to pull a rabbit out of a hat for this thing to stay alive,” Lanning said.After the vote, Lester Bagley, the team’s vice president of public affairs and stadium development, spoke with a frustrated tone, saying the team has done everything it’s been asked, and after more than a decade of trying there still hasn’t been a vote on the House floor. Continue Reading

Children’s voices unheard in funding debates: Declining resources deprive youngsters of quality pre-K schooling

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A new U.S. report released Tuesday says per-child spending in State-funded pre-K programs has declined more than $700 over the past 10 years. As a result, say advocates for early childhood education, African American children are not getting the preparation they need to succeed in later schooling.“This is a giant step backwards,” proclaims National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) Director Steve Barnett. “If any state expanded in enrollment, the funding did not keep pace.” He and U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan last week spoke to reporters, including the MSR, on a conference call about the 2011 NIEER “State of Preschool” report.The NIEER report found that 2010-11 pre-K funding had dropped by nearly $60 million — the second straight year of decline in total state spending. In 2009-10, there was a $30 million decrease. The report also noted that the declines in funding in some states have been compounded by budget cuts, and further cuts are expected for 2012-13.While overall pre-K enrollment is up nationwide from 10 years ago with more than 600,000 preschool children enrolled in 2010-11, the report found “uneven progress from state to state,” especially in funding such programs.Minnesota ranks 10th among all states in reported resources per child enrolled in pre-K, but the report also shows a smaller percentage of four-year-olds enrolled in the state today than a decade ago.Among the 39 states that currently have State-funded pre-K programs, Minnesota is 38th (next to last place) in four-year-olds enrolled (1.5 percent of eligible children) and three-year-olds enrolled (1.0 percent of eligible children). Continue Reading

Stadium debate kicks off

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An audible was called in the debate for a stadium to house the Minnesota Vikings. Supporters are betting that the change is a winning game plan.However, the backup funding plan has received a less-than-enthusiastic welcome from many legislators and the governor.Nonetheless, the bill has begun to barrel its way toward the goal line.Sponsored by Rep. Morrie Lanning (R-Moorhead), HF2810 calls for a$975 million fixed-roof stadium to be built on the Metrodome site. The team would cover $427 million of construction costs; the state $398 million; and Minneapolis $150 million. The team has played in the downtown Minneapolis stadium since 1982, but team officials say the facility is antiquated and does not provide the needed revenue to remain competitive, nor does it offer a top-notch fan experience.Without much discussion, the House Commerce and Regulatory Reform Committee approved the bill on a split-voice vote April 2 and sent it to the House Rules and Legislative Administration Committee for referral to the House Government Operations and Elections Committee. A number of other committee stops would be necessary before the bill could potentially reach the House floor. Continue Reading