Surprise.

The newest Minnesota Poll shows a remarkable result:

People like the idea of getting expensive stuff more when someone else is paying for it.

This is, of course, intended to reassure legislators outside Hennepin and Anoka Counties that there will be no backlash (for them) if they vote for a state bill that allows the state to tax Hennepin and Anoka County residents to build a stadium that Hennepin and Anoka County residents don’t want. 

Not from around here?  Here’s the thing.  We have, like, these professional sports teams here?  One major league baseball team and one football team?  You know, these commercial enterprises?  And, like, each of them wants the taxpayers to foot a big chunk of the bill for a brand-new sports stadium?  Which they say would be a really great deal with huge economic potential?  You know, so much economic potential that they haven’t been able to get, y’know, enough private investors? 

For ten years they and various supporters in the legislative and executive branches have been trying to get voters to agree to be taxed for the brand-new stadium for the professional sports teams, and astoundingly, no one has fallen for it.   

No majority of voters in any town, city, or county has stepped up and said, "Golly gee, great idea!  WE want to pay for a huge attraction in our back yard that will be largely enjoyed by people from nearby towns who don’t have to pay for it, and then pay again for tickets and ludicrously expensive beer and hot dogs, so that a private corporation can profit!" 

And no broad coalition of voters throughout the state has leaped from their seats and shouted, "Pick me!  Pick me!  Here’s my money!  I want to be taxed to fund a stadium that is four hours away from my home!  Actually can I give it to the Green Bay Packers instead?"

This must be very frustrating to the stadium supporters.  They called for a tax and nobody came.

But after ten years or so of trying to persuade voters to agree to pay for the professional sports teams to have a brand new stadium to replace the old, existing one  ("New stadium:  Warm and fuzzy.  Old stadium:  Cold and prickly.")  the supporters saw a light at the end of the tunnel.  Namely, they discovered a previously undiscovered loophole that allows the state legislature to agree to tax individual counties.  Get enough state representatives from outside Hennepin and Anoka county to agree, and:  there’s your tax.

By the way, what a bizarre header on this graphic.  The pollsters asked five questions of Minnesotans. 

Two are about public funding for the major league baseball stadium.    First, should we use public funding for a Twins ballpark?  (overwhelmingly no.)  Then a specific:  Not everyone gets taxed, only some people. (more yes’es this time, probably from the people who won’t get taxed.)

The other three are about public funding for the public university stadium.  First, should we use state funds for the university stadium?  (Mostly no.)  How about if the state funds only half of it? (Now half say yes.)  OK, what if the state funds 3/4 of it?  (Overwhelmingly no.)

The header is:  MINNESOTANS MORE APT TO ACCEPT SPECIFIC STADIUM, BALLPARK PROPOSALS.

Well, sure, especially if the specific is "You won’t have to pay."