T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter

The offense overpowered the defense in the House Thursday night (April 6), with lawmakers rallying to pass a Gopher stadium bill.

On the fast track through the House since recently being revised, the legislation ó featuring a land swop of some 2,840 acres in UMore Park in Dakota County to the State of Minnesota ó pounded through the House on a 103 to 30 vote.

Under the legislation, the state would pay $9.4 million for 25 years to help finance a proposed 50,000-seat, $248 million on-campus Gopher football stadium.

At the end of the 25 year period, it gains title to the parkland for one dollar.

The University of Minnesota must raise half the cost of the proposed stadium under the legislation.

It did not clear the House without a skirmish.

Bill backers pointed to the natural beauties of the parkland as a key selling point of the legislation.

ìItís the only trophy designated trout stream in the metropolitan area in the United States,î said Rep. Denny McNarama, R-Hastings, of the Vermillion River, which courses through the parkland.

ìThey pull four pound trout out,î he said.

But Rep. Jim Knoblach, R-St. Cloud, criticized the land swop for carrying covenants that makes knowing exactly what the state is gaining by the sale difficult.

ìMembers what youíre getting here ó Iím not really sure,î he said.

Knoblach offered an amendment to remove the land swop provision from the bill, putting it back into an earlier form.
The amendment had supporters.

ìThe only thing the Gopher stadium and UMore Park have in common is thereís probably some gophers digging at UMore Park,î said Rep. Rob Eastlund, R-Cambridge.

Rep. Dennis Ozment, R-Rosemount, argued that monetarily the parkland was valuable; flat nearby farmland was selling at $36,000 an acre.

More than that, the legislation would protect the rolling landscape into perpetuity, Ozment argued.

ìYou want to know the value of the land ó itís priceless,î he said. ìAnd you know, theyíre not making more land,î said Ozment.
Knoblachís amendment was voted down by a 86 to 47 vote.

Rep. Phil Krinkie, R-Lino Lakes, like Knoblach, offered two amendments during the debate, one dealing with firearm use on the parkland, the other lowering the cost of the deal to the state.

Both amendments were defeated.

House members made quips about Knoblach and Krinkie, both battling for Congress in the 6th Congressional District, implying the race was influencing their actions on the House floor ó a charge that was denied.

ìI think now Iíll take up a (campaign) collection to get you the hell out of here,î said Rep. Ron Erhardt, R-Edina, to Krinkie at one point during the floor session.

Erhardt had also made a reference to the race in a comment directed towards Knoblach.

Krinkie humorously thanked Erhardt for the contribution, explaining he was awaiting contributions from other the rest of the House members.

University President Robert Bruininks expressed gratitude after the House vote.

ìWeíre grateful to the House of Representatives for taking the next step to bring Gopher football back to campus,î said Bruininks.
ìThe strong vote today gets us to the 50-yard line. Now weíre looking to the Senate to get us into the end zone,î he said.

The Senate has yet to bring the Gopher stadium legislation to the Senate floor.

Local lawmakers voting for the Knoblach amendment include: Anderson, B., Buesgens, DeLaForest, Eastlund, Erickson, Goodwin, Knoblach, Krinkie, Peppin, Powell, and Wilkin.

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