The Viking stadium debate officially began this week. Ted Mondale, the newly appointed Chair of the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, testified this week in the Senate Committee on Local Government and Elections. He told legislators that Governor Dayton supports a new Vikings facility but believes it is important that the facility be a “people’s” facility and should be able to be utilized year round by a variety of organizations. Governor Dayton appears to be taking a strong interest in Minnesota sports facilities, as his bonding bill included money to do maintenance at Target Center, the home of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and funding for a new St. Paul Saint’s baseball stadium.

The repeal of the moratorium on construction of nuclear power plants (SF4 Koch R-Buffalo) passed off the Senate floor Wednesday on a 50 to 14 vote. DFL Senators Ellen Anderson (DFL- St. Paul), Linda Higgins (DFL-Minneapolis), John Marty (DFL-Roseville) and others made multiple attempts to amend the bill, all of which failed. The companion bill (HF 9) authored by Representative Joyce Peppin (R-Rogers), was previously heard in the House Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee and re-referred to the House Commerce and Regulatory Reform Committee where it will be heard on Wednesday, February 9, 2011, at 2:30 p.m.