Audio All Things Considered host Tom Crann talks about the prospects for a special session with Rep. Erik Paulsen (10/11/05) A stadium session? (Midday 10/11/2005) If there's another session, it may just be for the Gophers (Midday 10/7/05) Photos Gov. Tim Pawlenty More from MPR Momentum for Gophers stadium picks up (10/07/2005) Johnson rejects governor's special session menu (10/04/2005) Leaders not too thrilled about special session invitation (09/28/2005) Tools E-mail this page Print this page Sponsor

Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a Republican, wasn't ready to rule a special session out Tuesday afternoon, although he acknowledged the fleeting interest. (MPR Photo/Laura McCallum)

St. Paul, Minn. — (AP) In what could be a deciding blow, a top lawmaker informed Gov. Tim Pawlenty on Tuesday that most House Republican legislators are opposed to a fall special session to deal with sports stadium legislation.

House Majority Leader Erik Paulsen, R-Eden Prairie, urged Pawlenty not to summon legislators back to St. Paul to vote on a bill to finance a new University of Minnesota football stadium. A Minnesota Twins ballpark bill was also a possible discussion item.

Paulsen said most of his members overwhelmingly oppose the idea of coming back before the next session is due to begin in March even though the Gophers bill enjoys broad backing.

"Very few are willing to say publicly what is on the minds of most legislators and the overwhelming majority of the public: a special session for stadiums or any other non-emergency issues is the wrong idea at the wrong time," Paulsen wrote in a letter to Pawlenty.

Senate Republicans have also been cool to the idea of a special session. Senate Democrats were to meet later Tuesday on the issue.

Pawlenty, a Republican, wasn't ready to rule one out Tuesday afternoon, although he acknowledged the fleeting interest.

"If it's obvious that the bulk of legislative leaders aren't interested in moving forward, we can lead a horse to water but we can't make him or her drink," Pawlenty said. "So we're not going to force their head into the river."

The governor said he expects to make a final decision within days. He has sole power to call a special session.

Paulsen said his preference would be to line the bills up for quick consideration when the next regular session convenes in 2006.

Jerry Bell, president of the Twins parent company, said the team's stadium plan might not be on the table next spring. He said the Twins deal with Hennepin County to raise the local sales tax expires at the end of the year and construction costs on the $478 million project will rise by $30 million or more as well.

"There's always a chance since the final decision hasn't been made yet," Bell said on a Minnesota Public Radio call-in show. "But we do have the feeling that this thing might be slipping away."