Health & Fitness
Vikes' Big Day: Prediction
Whether you support a stadium or not, I think everyone in Minnesota, including me, is ready to have a stadium vote. Here's my prediction on the outcome.
Finally. Whether you support a stadium or not, I think everyone in Minnesota, including me, is ready to have a stadium vote. I'm not sure what the reporters will cover anymore, though.
STADIUM VOTE. A vote is expected today in the House on a proposed Vikings stadium. 68 votes are needed to pass the House. If it passes, in what could be a very close vote, it would then go to the Senate for a vote. Before going on to the governor, however, any differences between the House version and Senate version would have to be worked out by a conference committee, after which both the House and Senate would need to re-pass the bill. This challenging process isn't unique to the stadium; it applies to all legislative proposals. PREDICTION: STADIUM PASSES THE HOUSE WITH 71 VOTES.
In other news...
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PUBLIC WORKS BILL. We could also be voting today on legislation to do a variety of construction projects around the state. This includes repairs to some college buildings, a start of restoration work on the State Capitol, flood mitigation projects, and clean-ups of polluted sites.
TAX BILL VETOED. Governor Dayton vetoed the tax bill on Friday. Though the bill contained a number of good provisions, including business property tax relief, the governor vetoed it because it would have added $139 million to a projected state budget deficit next year.
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MAY DAY 5K. Thanks to everyone who participated in the 14th Annual Inver Grove Heights May Day 5K on Saturday, raising over $30,000 for scholarships for graduating seniors at Simley HS. I ran alongside Simley senior Max Wellens for a bit, who won the 5K in just over 17 minutes. The pace he keeps up for three miles felt like an all-out sprint to me. Participants also got an unexpected surprise, as the largest single donation in the history of the B.E.S.T. Scholarship Foundation was revealed. Check out the giant cardboard check at www.facebook.com/State.Rep.Joe.Atkins and see who the donor is.
LOCAL COACH WINS BIG. Congratulations to Mark Madigan, who was named Assistant Head Coach of the Year for our six-state region by the National Wrestling Coaches Association. Mark has been coaching at Simley since I was in 8th grade.
WELCOME TO MY NEWEST CONSTITUENT. Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer just closed on a home in our area. My 15-year-old daughter has already volunteered to deliver campaign brochures to his neighborhood at election time.
As always, I appreciate comments and questions. Please comment below, email me at rep.joe.atkins@house.mn or just give me a call at the Capitol at (651) 296-4192.
