Why Take Private Donations When We Still Haven't Taxed Every Last Cent?

Larry "Huge Taxes" Pogemiller and Dean "Tse-Tung" Johnson continue their drive towards a 100% tax rate in Minnesota...

State Senate leaders have introduced a bill that would prohibit the university from using private money for the $248 million stadium if the donors are allowed to determine the stadium's name, a move that could unravel the stadium's financing.

A year ago, university officials announced that they had reached an agreement with TCF that, over 25 years, would bring $35 million from the bank in exchange for naming the facility "TCF Bank Stadium."

But Sen. Larry Pogemiller, DFL-Minneapolis, said that the stadium's fortunes were being hurt because legislators were privately uncomfortable with the TCF agreement and that the stadium ought to be entirely funded with public money. Pogemiller is being joined by Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson, DFL-Willmar.

I think there should be a "town hall" meeting to discuss this. Might I suggest holding it in the 3M conference room (yes there is such a room) in the Carlson (as in Carlson Companies) School of Management, the University of Minnesota.

Even if taking the naming rights funds from TCF makes you somewhat beholden to them, how is that any different than taking money from a private benefactor. Are you not just as beholden to the private benefactor? Does the Carlson family have any less influence from their generous $40+ million donation because it is the Carlson School of Management rather than the Carlson Companies School of Management? I guess I should have asked that of the dean one of the times I saw him over at Carlson Towers.

Although a TCF spokesperson politely stated that there was no indication that this had anything to do with TCF being chaired by former Republican Party state chair, Bill Cooper, I wonder.... Would Pogemiller and Johnson be as opposed if we were talking about Ben & Jerry's Stadium, Progressive Insurance Stadium or Whole Foods Stadium?

I know it's tilting at windmills, but Pogemiller's anti-growth, anti-working family platform is why I'm doing everything I can to support Sandy Burt in her effort to un-seat him. I encourage you to do the same.