Index of SPPS Budget Discussion http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/spps-posts.html _________________________________________ > Back in 2002, State Senator Sandi Pappas insisted to > me that a referendum was not needed, because Norm > built the Excel Center/Hockey Arena without a > referendum. However after I called her on it, and > cc:'ed in Governor Ventura's office, the whole mood > chnaged in less than a week. Even Kelly now says he > supports a referendum.
Not against a referendum. You got me confused. I don't think that if any funding gets passed without a referendum is "taxation without representation" though which is really my point. > Why does the team oppose a referendum? That's easy. > If > you had to get only 154 votes (100 in the MN Senate, > 50 in the MN House and 4 at the St. Paul City > Council > or 4 at the Hennpin County Board) or 100,000 votes > which would you prefer do8ing? DAH! Now in a good > month, even I can personally lobby almost everyone > at > the legislature and City Hall. Give me $500,000 and > 6 > lobbyists and in a week I'll be able to tell you > their > favorite food and what side of the bed they sleep > on. I think I said that. Actually I said "it is easy to jump that they oppose because it is easier to control the votes a few legislators..." Path of least resistence. I asked if anyone got the ballclub's position on why it doesn't want a referendum. See what they say. Maybe they have a legit reason. Maybe we will get BS. > On the other hand, the two times the issue has been > put to a vote of citizens, Minneapolis in 1997(?) > (to > place a $10 million cap on City expenditures for > sports facilities) A $10 million cap that I think they were looking to repeal to be able to make improvements to the target center once they figured out they were losing nearly all their business to the Xcel center and a cap that is forcing them to rely on all of hennepin county to fund their effort. If either team offered to pay the full cost of construction provided the city give them some land, minneapolis can't even do that because the rapid park parcel will cost $13 million. > and in St. Paul in 1999 on Norm's > proposal for a 1/2% sales tax for a stadium the > voters > have overwhelming rejected the idea. 58/42. never denied that. wouldn't say it is overwhelming but solid. an 8 point swing isn't that much for supports so I can see the importance of anti-pubilc funding groups getting out in the forefront. John harris webber-camden __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Get better spam protection with Yahoo! Mail. http://antispam.yahoo.com/tools _____________________________________________ SPPS Budget Reduction Forum - Feb. 23-27 Co-Sponsored By NEAT: http://www.stpaulneat.org/ _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
