Two GOP Veterans Key To Vikings’ Capitol Push

ST. PAUL (AP) - The two Minnesota lawmakers most important to the Vikings' push for a new stadium at the Capitol this year don't live anywhere near the Twin Cities and are not even huge Minnesota Vikings fans.

Sen. Julie Rosen of Fairmont and Rep. Morrie Lanning of Moorhead are the chief sponsors of a bill to finance a new stadium with partial taxpayer funding. The Republicans are Capitol veterans who are also well-respected by Democrats, and they'll have to convince legislators of both parties to support taxes going to the team even as state spending is cut elsewhere.

Ted Mondale, Gov. Mark Dayton's point man on the stadium push, says Rosen and Lanning are the two most important people at the Capitol to getting a deal done.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)