Time to focus on other issues
Minnesota Daily, Twin Cities: After years of media coverage, countless debates in the state Legislature and more than $1 billion in public investments made, it appears Minnesota’s stadium battles are finished.
In the beginning, it appeared the state’s elected officials would oppose any and all requests for public funding going to build stadiums for the state’s prominent sports teams. However, after the dust has settled, the Twins, Gophers, Vikings and even the St. Paul Saints were all granted a certain amount of public financing.
While opponents and skeptics of the stadium bills now signed into law may still be bitter, we should all take solace in knowing that the issue of funding construction of a new stadium is unlikely to resurface anytime soon.
State officials and lawmakers should now refocus their attention back on the pressing issues that have been pushed to the back of the legislative agenda. While it might not attract the attention of the national media or high powered NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, the state Legislature should focus on more important issues, such as keeping our schools well-funded, improving our public transportation and finding ways to keep the state economically competitive.