November 04, 2004
[Expletive deleted]
More on yesterday's D.C. council votes on the now-$550-million Expos stadium bill: The legislation was actually passed by two committees, economic development and finance, each by the same 3-2 margin. As expected, athletic supporters Jack Evans and Harold Brazil voted in favor (each sits on both committees); stadium critics David Catania, Kathy Patterson, Adrian Fenty, and Jim Graham all voted no. The one wild card, lame-duck councilmember Kevin Chavous, voted "yes" twice after having previously been noncommital about the stadium bill.
There are also new details on the war of words that broke out in Councilmember Evans' finance committee meeting, when the committee chair exploded in a profane tirade during Catania's introduction of the 17th of his 20 proposed amendments to the bill. As the Washington Times' Eric Fisher tells it:
Tension grew palpably during Catania's heated criticisms of the ballpark proposal that served as a preamble for every failed amendment, finally boiling over with his comment that "this council will approve anything.""I've been on this council for 14 years, and I don't just ... vote for anything," said Evans, using a profane adjective. "I take my job very seriously."The verbal clash between the two continued with Evans telling Catania, "If you don't like [the way the council deliberates], why don't you quit?"Catania quickly replied, "What, and leave this to you?"
The economic development committee meeting that followed was less rancorous, possibly in part because committee chair Brazil allowed Graham only three minutes in which to speak and introduce amendments. Though Evans said the bill may still be modified before it goes to an expected vote of the full council next week, Graham was unappeased, telling the Times: "Absent significant details of this revised bill, absent financial certifications we need from the chief financial officer, we're completely in the dark on this. I want this process to slow down. This is not the way to do business."
