Senator: Vikings Stadium Out of Construction Bill

ST. PAUL  (AP) - The Minnesota Senate's top Republican says a financing plan for a new Vikings stadium won't be part of a construction projects package.

Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem said Thursday that a GOP stadium proposal first floated Tuesday is now separate from the construction bill because of complications related to using state borrowing to pay for a stadium.

Senjem says that method of financing is running into snags.

Instead, he says, lawmakers are now considering user fees on items such as tickets and concessions to pay for the stadium, possibly with a gambling expansion - a proposal that has met with resistance from rank-and-file Republican legislators.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved)