BALLPARK DEBATE TAKES HOLD IN MINNESOTA STATEHOUSE

     A proposed bill to help build a new ballpark for the Twins
is "getting kicked around" even before it has been introduced,
according to the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE.  Leaders are debating
"who will decide if a stadium is built and what sort of tax will
pay for it."  House Minority leader Steve Sviggum "broke away
from other political leaders" and said if an advisory referendum
is approved, "he wants it to be statewide and not limited to the
seven-county metro area."  The draft of the bill approved last
week included an increase in the metro-area hotel-motel room
taxes and on-and off-sale liquor taxes.  Sviggum said all state
voters will pay these taxes when they go attend a Twins game and
should have a say in the increase.  A poll released Thursday by
KARE-Channel 11 showed that 58% of metro voters would vote no on
public funding, while statewide, the no vote grows to 63%. Any
taxes would help fund a new $200M retractable-roof stadium for
the Twins (Weiner & Whereatt, Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 1/26).