Capitol Chatter: Dayton takes credit

ST. PAUL — Gov. Dayton’s complaints about the Minnesota Vikings plan to possibly sell seat licenses for $60,000 helped to sway the discussion to smaller figures, he said.

Dayton rushed a letter to Vikings owners when he learned the team was asking season ticket holders their opinions about buying licenses, which would give them better seats and give the Vikings money to help fund a new stadium. The governor said at the time that he supported a “people’s stadium, not a rich people’s stadium.”

He said that the attention he brought to the issue will convince the team and a governmental body that controls the stadium to lower the price tag.

“That will save Minnesotans a lot of money,” he told reporters.

The attention should take care of the situation, he said, so the Legislature will not need to get involved. “I don’t have any interest in reopening the stadium bill,” he said.

‘Keep wind credit’

A coalition of Minnesota business leaders, elected officials, sportsmen and environmental groups are asking Congress to extend tax credits for renewable energy development such as wind.

Minnesota gets almost 13 percent of its electricity from wind power, but supporters fear that if tax credits are rescinded the industry’s growth will slow. Many blame Republicans for wanting to eliminate the tax breaks.

“We are aware that the fossil fuel lobby would like to see us disappear, but we think if fossil fuels are going to enjoy preferential tax credit policy, then the whole energy sector should be at the table to decide on future tax reform,” said former state Rep. Aaron Peterson, juwi Wind’s community relations and regulatory affairs manager. “Wind is a bi-partisan issue: 80 percent of America’s wind farms are in Republican-held congressional districts.”

Dayton campaign?

Two years remain in Gov. Dayton’s term, but it appears his re-election campaign is already under way.

His state staff sent reporters emails in recent days outlining what were described as his major accomplishments, so far.

“Two years into his administration, Gov. Mark Dayton is making important progress toward building a better Minnesota,” said a news release written by a state staffer. “Measuring that progress by the improvements Minnesotans have seen in their lives, families, communities and economy, the Dayton administration is taking inventory of what has been accomplished thus far, and considering the work that still remains to be done.”

Releases included discussions about a variety of topics, including education, health care and economic development.

Tags: capitol chatter, news, updates, business, money, vikings, sell