Close Vote In Senate Keeps Seahawk Stadium Drive Alive Measure To Allow Public Vote Now Must Tackle House
The Washington Senate narrowly approved on Wednesday a public vote on a new $425 million football stadium for the Seattle Seahawks.
Opponents called it a financially risky plan to build “a playhouse for millionaires,” but backers said the proposal is a last-shot effort to accept billionaire Paul Allen’s offer to buy the NFL franchise and keep the team in Seattle.
The vote was 25-23, the bare minimum needed for approval.
The measure now goes to the state House, where a similarly close vote is expected sometime next week.
“It will be scary,” said Bud Coffey, chief lobbyist for Allen’s Football Northwest organization. “We’ll be looking for every single vote and try to get to 50 (the bare minimum).”
The proposal, SB5999, is a mix of public and private funds, including a $100 million pledge from Allen, a co-founder of Microsoft. The public portion, capped at $325 million, includes taxes on Seahawks admissions and parking, a sales tax credit, new lottery games and a 5 percent wholesale tax on licensed sports logo gear.
Gov. Gary Locke said he immediately will turn to rounding up votes in the more conservative House.
The Legislature will not meet the Seahawks’ original Thursday deadline for a decision, but backers in the House are optimistic that they can wrap up things by late next week.
Allen paid $20 million for an option from owner Ken Behring, a California developer who plans to move the NFL team if the sale doesn’t materialize. Allen’s option expires on July 1, and he wants a June 3 public vote on the tax package.
Election officials say they need about 60 days to get the election lined up in all 39 counties.
Before approving the bill Wednesday, the Senate considered but rejected several big changes:
Use of a renovated Husky Stadium rather than building a brand new stadium. Sen. Mike Heavey, D-Seattle, proposed giving voters their choice of either the Husky Stadium option or the new construction. The plan was rejected 28-17.
Imposing a business tax on the income of professional sports player and a surcharge on the media, investment bankers and others who would benefit from the new stadium. A tax on luxury boxes and seat licenses also was proposed. The package, offered by Heavey and Ray Schow, R-Federal Way, would have replaced the sports clothing tax, the most controversial part of the plan.
The main Senate sponsor, Alex Deccio, R-Yakima, said the state will “lose the Seahawks forever” if the stadium vote isn’t authorized.
“When we clear away all the rhetoric and flak, the question is whether the public is going to decide whether we will keep the Seahawks in the state of Washington,” he said.
He said Allen would be a “benevolent” owner.
But Heavey called it a “stupid” proposal. The plan would involve tearing down “a perfectly good facility” - the Kingdome - and ignores the potential of using the state-owned Husky Stadium. It also leaves the taxpayers vulnerable if any part of the revenue package doesn’t fully produce, Heavey said.
xxxx How they voted Four of five Eastern Washington senators supported the Seattle Seahawks stadium plan. Voting yes were Jim West, R-Spokane; Bob McCaslin, R-Spokane Valley; Eugene Prince, R-Thornton; and Bob Morton, R-Orient. Voting no was Lisa Brown, D-Spokane.