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Dayton: lawmakers need to step up on Vikings stadium

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Nov 8, 2011 at 12:02 pm

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Gov. Mark Dayton says leading state lawmakers must make a bigger priority of the Minnesota Vikings' push for a public stadium subsidy.

The Democratic governor says Tuesday he sees legislative leaders dragging their feet and hears complaints that many lawmakers prefer to wait until after the 2012 election to resolve the issue.

He says getting a stadium deal before the next regular session starts in late January would create thousands of private construction jobs and boost the economy.

Legislative leaders said last week that they will call public hearings on a stadium bill once a specific proposal is on the table, but set no timeline for when that might be. Dayton says it will only get done if leaders make a firmer commitment and start setting deadlines.