April 06, 2005
It happens every spring
Looks like the Florida Marlins may be headed for another disappointing April in their annual quest to squeeze the Florida legislature for $60 million in stadium funding. After an exuberantly pro-stadium House legislator tacked on additional subsidies for spring-training facilities in the state, enthusiasm for the bill has notably waned, with Gov. Jeb Bush now saying that passage of a Marlins subsidy is a "stretch."
Adding - insult to injury? fire to the flames? one of those - state senate economist Ross Fabricant testified yesterday that "every single study indicates that there is no positive economic benefit - net positive economic benefit - for publicly funding professional sports teams or stadiums," said, an economist who works for the Senate budget office. City of Miami lobbyist Ron Book told the AP that he was "not worried," and that he had plenty of experts who could say stadiums would provide a positive economic impact. Well, sure - they're just a checkbook away.
