Lester Bagley

Jan 27, 2014

Gov. Mark Dayton announces Super Bowl steering committee

Davis said the business community is firmly behind the bid to win hosting rights for the national television event, which he called "a chance to put us on the world stage."

Oct 24, 2013

Sports facilities commission hears stadium deal details

The Vikings will contribute an annual use fee of $8.5 million to the MSFA, and another yearly contribution of $1.5 million toward capital enhancements.

Nov 14, 2012

Dayton balks at Vikings’ seat license proposal

Gov. Mark Dayton is “greatly distressed” by a pair of proposals recently floated by the Minnesota Vikings, according to a strongly worded letter Dayton sent to team owners Zygi and Mark Wilf.

Nov 13, 2012

Dayton letter slams Wilfs for Vikings proposals

In his strongly worded letter, Dayton urges the Vikings organization to reconsider a pair of ideas, and questions the team's role as a faithful partner with the state.

Aug 1, 2012

LIPP: Public Policy (sports)

Lester Bagley, Mark Dayton, Morrie Lanning and Julie Rosen.

Jun 20, 2012

Lobbying expense report obscures more than it reveals

Lobbyist spending reports from this year’s legislative session have been unveiled by the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board (CFPD). But a word of caution is warranted in assessing the numbers: They don’t include lobbyists’ salaries.

Jun 7, 2012

Leaders in Public Policy Award Winners Announced

Politics in Minnesota and Capitol Report are proud to announce the winners of our Leaders in Public Policy awards for 2012.

May 25, 2012

How the stadium deal was done

Left for dead in April, the Vikings stadium bill sprinted to passage in the session’s closing days. What happened?

May 11, 2012

What’s in final stadium bill?

The headline-grabbing details hadn’t changed much by the time the bill to construct a new professional football stadium for the Minnesota Vikings passed through both chambers of the Legislature after more than a year of back-and-forth negotiations.

May 9, 2012

Capitol awaits final stadium vote

After a pair of marathon floor debates, the House and Senate passed legislation this week authorizing construction of a $975 million stadium for the Minnesota Vikings.

May 4, 2012

Strange turns precede looming stadium vote

At first it was a “hare-brained scheme,” and then it was “absolutely worth considering.” At first it was roofless, and then it couldn’t be built without a roof.

May 2, 2012

Dean’s new stadium pitch upends push for House floor vote (by design?)

After months of negotiations between Gov. Mark Dayton and legislative leaders on a Minnesota Vikings stadium plan, GOP legislative leaders upended the debate on Tuesday by unveiling a new proposal that relies entirely on general obligation bonds to cover the state’s portion of the project.