Football
Mayor, Republicans at odds over stadium funding
By Kevin Rader/Political Reporter
Feb 4, 2005, 21:48

Indianapolis, Feb. 4 - What a difference a day makes. Thursday the Speaker of the Indiana House was catching passes from Peyton Manning and implying the Indianapolis Colts stadium issue will get done.

What he didn't say was the plan House Republicans would tout includes Marion County tax increases on Colts tickets, restaurants, hotels, car rentals, income, sales and even player's salaries.

House, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Representative Jeff Espich (R) says, "The issue is so close to gambling, the issue is in the mud. No gambling. No Colts. I don't think that is the case. We must not let that be the case."

"Speaker Bosma's proposal today, if it is the final word, means the Colts are leaving Indianapolis. I want to emphasize if it is the final word it means the Colts will be leaving Indianapolis." Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson says the ironclad deal he negotiated keeps the Colts for 30 years and does not raise taxes. "And it all can be done without creating a downtown casino like the speaker and the governor have objected to earlier."

Governor Mitch Daniels was asked if he thought the tax burdon the House Republican plan proposed for Marion County was fair. "Probably not. These are local decisions for Marion County, but my read of what Jeff suggested is that he has laid out far more money than necessary."

Espich says his menu gives the mayor options. "No stadium has ever been built on casino money. There are a few who have some gambling money as a small portion of their revenue, some, but even those are a token amount."

"This plan, the speaker's plan, is a one way ticket for the Colts out of Indianapolis," says Peterson.

What a difference a day makes.


© Copyright 2004 by YourSITE.com