Dayton: Lawmakers Should Disclose U.S. Bank Stadium Suite Usage
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton said Tuesday he is satisfied with a new policy at U.S. Bank Stadium that restricts free tickets for friends and family members of stadium commissioners.
The Democratic governor says now that the Minnesota Sports Facility Authority has revealed who got free tickets to stadium events, state lawmakers should disclose how many times they have attended other big events -- and whether they paid for them.
"What about, you know, legislators being in the corporate suites of various people who have interests in legislation that's being considered, and which if they haven't reimbursed the tickets it violates state law," Dayton said.
Stadium officials admitted they were caught off guard by the public backlash over free tickets for their friends and family.
They are now ending the freebies for good, and keeping a future record of who attends.
And Dayton says he wants all state lawmakers to disclose how many times they have attended events, including luxury suites -- at any venue -- and if they paid, including "corporate suites who have very strong connections with the media or agendas before the legislature."
But stadium ticket policies are murky, especially for luxury suites.
Republican State Representative Sarah Anderson has directed letters to Target Field, Target Center and Xcel Energy Center, wanting to know who has access to suites and who attended.
Minnesota Republican House Speaker Kurt Daudt recently attended a Vikings game in the suite of Timberwolves and Star Tribune owner Glen Taylor, and says he paid $176 for the ticket.
He says Gov. Dayton is trying to "distract attention" from the U.S. Bank Stadium ticket controversy, which he called a DFL problem.
"Luxury suites were used by only one party. There were only Democrats in the suite," Daudt said. "It's not appropriate."
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