Vikings stadium bill dealt blow

ST. PAUL, Minn., May 5 (UPI) -- A state legislative panel Wednesday narrowly defeated a $791 million measure for a new Minnesota Vikings stadium.

The bill's chief author, Rep. Loren Solberg, DFL-Grand Rapids, said the 10-9 vote "makes it more difficult" to push a stadium financing package through the Legislature this session, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. He said he had not decided whether to revive the measure but would not attempt any extraordinary maneuvers.

"I'm not going to do anything funny, or anything like that. I respect the system," Solberg said.

The legislative session ends in 12 days.

The Vikings have said they would not renew their lease for the 28-year-old Metrodome in Minneapolis, which expires after the 2011 season.

The Star Tribune said significant portions of the bill's funding mechanisms were changed as lawmakers took it up Tuesday night, tossing out taxes on lodging, rental cars and National Football League merchandise.

The newspaper said Minneapolis city officials also resisted a proposal to use taxes now collected to pay for the city's convention center to help finance the stadium.