[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: A Power Play in two Acts

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
A Power Play in two Acts
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1211508544.shtml


   Take a look at this almost amusing [1]Pioneer Press article about two
   Legislators fighting over the Chanhassen Dinner Theaters (CDT). The
   weapon of choice? Amendments.
   I had to read the article a couple of times to understand it, and I
   may still have part of it wrong. But one Legislator wants to lure the
   CDT to be part of the Mall of America expansion and will accept no
   substitute.

     After consulting with representatives of downtown Minneapolis
     theater interests, [State Rep. Jim Davnie, DFL, Minneapolis]
     drafted an amendment laying out the sort of live entertainment
     venue that would be permissible in a mall expansion.
     Such a theater, according to the amendment, must have a "seating
     capacity not to exceed 1,500 with a terraced main floor on which at
     least two-thirds of its total seats are located at fixed tables, at
     which substantially all of the admissions for performances will
     include meals, and which must be operated by a theater organization
     that has continuously operated a dinner theatre in Minnesota for at
     least 30 years."

   What a surprise! Only the CDT meets this defintion. The Guthrie, the
   Old Log, et al all come up short - as designed.

     When state Rep. Joe Hoppe, a Republican whose suburban district
     includes the dinner theater, got wind of the amendment, he â in
     consultation with Chanhassen city officials â drafted another
     amendment that used the same language to essentially reverse
     Davnie's amendment, effectively preventing Chanhassen, or any other
     live theater, from occupying the mall expansion.

   However entertaining, it does illustrate how the government can take a
   significant interest in your specific business or property, without
   naming your company, name, or plat description.
   I saw a similar example many years ago, where a Congressional Defense
   Appropriation specified the type of cookies to be in field rations
   with great precision. Oreo's happened to fill the bill, Hydrox did
   not.

References

   1. http://www.twincities.com/ci_9339983?IADID=Search-www.twincities.com-www.twincities.com