So, first the stadium bill was doing well. Then it wasn't doing so well. Then it was doing pretty well again. Then it was all but dead.
Well, now it appears that things might be on the upswing again, according to WCCO political reporter Pat Kessler.
@PatKessler
Patrick Kessler IT'S ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gov Dayton, GOP lawmakers pledge to pass stadium bill this year, using gaming as funding source. #mnvikings
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Now, that doesn't get into too many specifics or anything like that, but it's much better news than we had yesterday. It's interesting that he says that gaming is going to be the funding source for this, considering how deep the pockets of the Indian gaming lobby are in the state (which we've seen time and time again). You can expect to see a bunch of stuff in response to this about how gambling is evil and feeds on addictions and all that other good stuff. . .the old Simpsons "WON'T SOMEBODY PLEASE THINK OF THE CHILDREN" defense, if you will. Yes, people get addicted to gambling, we know that. People also get addicted to alcohol, smoking, and fast food, but nobody's clamoring to shut down all of Minnesota's bars, cigarette shops, or fast food restaurants, are they?
So, we might actually have something here, but it remains to be seen how much.
On a related note, it's great to see the number of people that are apparently following Ted's lead and calling the office of Speaker Zellers to get his attention on this entire issue. Keep in mind, though. . .when you call his office, you are not going to get him on the phone. You're going to get a member of his staff. I urge you to be cordial, civil, and courteous when talking to the folks on Zellers' staff. He seems like the kind of guy that would use his staff members as shields to try to deflect the criticism from himself on this subject, and we don't want to give this guy any opportunity to potentially turn himself into a sympathetic figure.
Voice your opposition to Zellers' ideas. . .do not take your frustrations out on his staff.