While Twins fans and those lobbying for a new stadium celebrate the fact that lawmakers will set aside $330 million to pay for a new ballpark, they have to keep in mind that the plan does nothing to keep the Twins in Minnesota and sets a dangerous precedent.

Proponents already admit that Twins owner Carl Pohlad is still intent on selling the team. It will be even more difficult to do that now that anyone who purchased the team will be saddled with a $120 million down payment for the stadium and an additional $10 million for rent and upkeep for the next 30 years. Simply put, if Pohlad sells the team to an the new owner is unwilling to carry the financial baggage, the team will move.

Secondly, the passage of the bill sends the message that Gov. Jesse Ventura, despite all his grand rhetoric of opposing using public money for sports facilities, has caved to Bud Selig, commissioner of baseball. The mere mention of contracting the Twins sent lawmakers scrambling to save the Twins. The bill’s passage proves that Selig and team owners need only apply political pressure and make baseless threats to have taxpayers shell out money for their private playgrounds.

It’s only a matter of time until those in the Vikings camp will use the same scare tactics to pay for a stadium. The stadium bill already includes provisions for the Vikings, who are supposed to make a deal with the University of Minnesota for the proposed building. Eventually, however, the team will want the same preferential treatment the Twins received.

When that happens, lawmakers will have no one to blame but themselves.