From staff reports

It would be comical if it was not so vexing.

Wednesday, August 04, 1999

It would be comical if it was not so vexing. St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman, the former Republican candidate for governor, is presenting the Legislature with more of the same, even though the same results are all but guaranteed.

Coleman, of course, wants to move the Minnesota Twins from Minneapolis into a shiny new stadium in St. Paul.

Worst among Coleman’s proposals is a $100 million taxpayer contribution to a new stadium.

Coleman doesn’t seem to realize that the prospect of securing $100 million in taxpayer money for a stadium is laughable.

Minnesotans are against it.

The governor is against it.

The House tax chairman is against it.

The House speaker is against it.

The Senate majority leader called its chances &uot;remote.&uot;

The House assistant minority leader called it &uot;dead on arrival.&uot;

Coleman’s plan also hinges on owner Carl Pohlad selling the team to new owners who would pay for one-third of the stadium, and St. Paul voters approving a half-cent sales tax increase on Nov. 2.

Considering the odds, maybe Norm should start buying Powerball tickets.

Better yet, he could drop the plan, and save lawmakers the time and pain of readdressing a dead issue.