There's a chance stadium could resurface

ST. PAUL (AP) -- There's a glimmer of a chance that a stadium bill or two could be debated in the special session that got under way on Monday.

A bill for a study of a Minnesota Vikings stadium was introduced in the House and the chief sponsor of a Twins stadium bill said that may prompt him to seek action on his proposal. The Vikings bill also was introduced in the Senate.

Rep. Doug Stang, R-Cold Spring, said because the Vikings stadium study was never acted on in the regular session he decided to introduce it in the special session.

But he said he will not push for any vote until all budget issues are resolved.

"We just want to make sure if the opportunity is there we are ready to take advantage of it," Stang said.

Likewise, Rep. Harry Mares, R-White Bear Lake, said he would not actively push his bill unless a budget deal was in place. But he said he will consider at least introducing a bill to help finance a new Twins ballpark.

"I have one jacketed and ready to go," he said. The bill Mares would introduce is "substantially different" than the one he sponsored in the regular session, he said. He would not provide details.

Legislative leaders have said they want the special session to be confined to tax and spending issues. But, in the House, four unrelated bills were introduced, including the Vikings bill.

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DEATH PENALTY

There was no legislation before them, but three Minnesota lawmakers spoke up on the death penalty hours after Timothy McVeigh was put to death Monday.

The Oklahoma City bomber was the first person executed by the federal in more than three decades. Minnesota has no death penalty.

After a moment of silence for the bombing victims, Rep. Dave Bishop rose to condemn the execution.

Bishop, R-Rochester, said McVeigh's action was reprehensible, but putting him to death was equally so.

"Killing a killer is still an intentional killing," he told his colleagues. "What we did today is just as wrong as it was for Timothy McVeigh to do what he did."

Rep. Luanne Koskinen, DFL-Coon Rapids, whose daughter kidnapped and fatally stabbed seven years ago, echoed Bishop and called McVeigh's execution a murder in itself.

"I hang my head today that as a nation we have participated in the murder of one of our citizens," she said.

Rep. Mark Olson, R-Big Lake, argued that putting a killer to death was not as disgraceful as allowing abortions.

"The legalized killing of a guilty murderer is significantly different than the legalized killing of innocent victims," he said.