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Rep. Atkins – Statement on Deal to End NHL Lockout

Monday, January 7, 2013

Commerce Committee Chair still intends to hold hearing

 

St. Paul, Minnesota — Yesterday, the NHL owners and NHL Players’ Association announced a tentative agreement to end the 113 day NHL lockout. On January 2, Rep. Joe Atkins (DFL – Inver Grover Heights) announced his intention to hold a hearing in the Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee to discuss the economic impact of the lockout and to consider whether legislation is needed that sets out special rules for entities that accept public funds with promises of jobs and economic activity and then lock out employees.

 

Rep. Atkins still intends to hold the hearing on January 23 and released the following statement:

 

“While I am pleased that the lockout is coming to end, I still expect to hold this committee hearing. We need to hear from the people who were affected by the lockout and consider if there is anything the legislature can or should do in anticipation of future lockouts. I will be meeting with the Minnesota Wild soon and will be eager to hear their thoughts on this matter.

 

“Whether it’s the NHL, NFL, the Minnesota Orchestra, or the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, lockouts have been happening more and more frequently with groups who received taxpayer dollars, despite promises by those groups of economic activity and jobs. We have an obligation to taxpayers to find ways to minimize the economic impact of these lockouts in the future.”