at MN Gov Dayton signing of new Viking Stadium: " Last time I checked, kids cannot eat footballs.”

[annm4peace]

http://www.theuptake.org/2012/05/14/vikings-got-bailed-out-we-got-sold-out/


Members of the Welfare Rights Committee managed to interrupt the feel good bill signing moment at the Minnesota Capitol today by chanting such anthems as, “Kids Cannot Eat Footballs!” and “Shame on You Governor Dayton.”

Governor Mark Dayton was signing a bill authorizing public funding of a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings NFL football team.

Says Lena Buggs, “Why would you fund a losing franchise at the sake of poor and working families here who are struggling to make it. Last time I checked, kids cannot eat footballs.”

The Committee responded to Governor Dayton’s promise that this will create thousands of jobs by countering that most of those jobs will be lower paying and temporary. While construction jobs are temporary, stadium builders claim that there will be thousands of new hospitality positions available once it’s built. Those claims are still not enough to satisfy Welfare Rights Committee activists, who have been vocal all session long about helping poor and working families.

They’ve called for the resignation of Representative Mary Franson after she characterized welfare recipients as animals- a statement she said was taken out of context. They have also been opposed to numerous additions set forth in the Minnesota Legislature that would, as they claim, “make it harder for working and poor families to make ends meet.”

The Welfare Rights Committee claims that the stadium is being built with general operating funds while legislators claim there isn’t enough money for social programs. While there was talk of using General Obligation bonds with the plan set forth by Republican leaders, it ended up on the chopping block. General operating funds aren’t being used to fund the stadium. Vikings leaders were also asked to contribute $50 million more dollars to the deal.

Now that the legislative session has ended, Committee members will use this time to re-group and focus on upcoming issues in the 2013 session.

[tech_smythe]

1. This was a no-win for dayton

if the Vikings left it would have been very bad all around
However the dems in the legislature DID manage to get the billionaire owner to pony up at least SOME money for the new arena, as well as get a 40-year lease on the team.

It was hard all around to decide which way to go because there are REAL JOBS at stake for the presence of the NFL team.

Yes most people are pissed that we the people have to pay for a stadium, but at the same time, it DOES bring in a ton of out-side money from tourists.

To be fair, Dayton has taken the gloves off when dealing with the GOP here for a while now, and I don't feel this article is being fair to him. As always the situation is far more complicated than the article on it plays it out to be.

It also ignored the fact that Dayton has been stone walled, like Obama, every time he's tried to fund improvements to social programs.

[rsmith6621]

2. USER TAX

That is how they should be paying for these.

Go to game... You Pay

Go to a concert... You Pay

You dont use the stadium... You dont pay.

[tech_smythe]

3. do you think that could get passed in this legislature?

the gop is in the majority right now... so forget it.

but yes I agree, a small 5% tax would be an idea way to deal with sports BS.