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| Date: | November 15, 2012 | | Contact Name: | Peter Winiecki | | Contact Phone: | 651-297-8077 | | Contact Email: | peter.winiecki@senate.mn | | For Immediate Release | |
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| HANN WEIGHS IN ON VIKINGS STADIUM SEAT TAX Senate Minority Leader Calls Dayton's Criticism of Vikings Bizarre |
(ST. PAUL) – After Governor Mark Dayton lambasted the Minnesota Vikings owners for an attempt to implement a personal seat-licensing fee, Senate Minority Leader David Hann (R-Eden Prairie) called the criticism “bizarre” and cautioned against “tax the rich” policies.
Senate Minority Leader Hann said: “The legislation supported by the Administration and signed into law by the Governor specifically authorizes such a revenue stream for the Vikings. Did the Governor really believe the team would forego the opportunity to pass on the costs to the consumer? That is the purpose for the seat licensing provision which is a true form of user fees.
“The first concern is whether Governor Dayton actually read the bill he promoted and enacted. The second concern is much deeper and has much greater policy consequences. The team contribution to the stadium functions as a ‘tax’ by forcing a private business to help finance a government project. Of course the business owner will attempt to pass the cost to the consumer. That happens in the market until costs cannot be passed on and the business closes or moves to another location.”
Hann concluded. “This is always the case when government taxes a business. I hope this serves as a lesson for the Governor and his DFL allies. ‘Tax the rich’ is a great sound bite, but doing it doesn’t always work so well in practice.”
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