After a four-hour delay, the Minnesota state senate is debating the Minnesota Vikings' stadium bill. This debate could continue on into the evening as there are more than 50 amendments to the bill according to reports.
Eric Durkee, a Vikings public relations and stadium development employee tweeted this picture of the debate:
#newMNstadium bill being discussed in Senate. Over 50 amendments. twitter.com/durkeee/status…
— Eric Durkee (@durkeee) May 8, 2012
If the bill passes, then the a joint House/Senate committee will have to reconcile the differences between the different versions of the bill before it lands on the governor's desk to sign into law.
One key point raised by stadium supporters is the importance of keeping the Vikings in Minnesota. Some dismiss this idea as a scare tactic, while stadium supporters are legitimately worried about the Vikings long-term stability in Minnesota.
Sen Michel (R): "We don't want the Vikings to leave. We want to take the wheels off this franchise and have them here for our grandkids"
— Jeff Goldberg (@jgoldbergfox9) May 8, 2012
Sen Marty (DFL): "The NFL needs a team here, and frankly that's why they're not going to move"
— Jeff Goldberg (@jgoldbergfox9) May 8, 2012
Those interested in the senate debate can watch it online on the senate's UStream channel.
This SB Nation Minnesota story stream will have updates as they break. For more on the Minnesota Vikings, go to Daily Norseman.