Senate unlikely to take up proposal, leader says

[Marlins2003]

Senate unlikely to take up proposal, leader says

 

By BRENT KALLESTAD

Associated Press Writer

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- A day after the Florida House passed a bill spending millions of dollars to help professional sports franchises, Senate President Tom Lee said the measure has virtually no support among his members.

 

Lee said about 30 of the 40 senators are opposed to a $60 million subsidy to help Miami officials build a new ballpark for the Florida Marlins, not to mention the millions more included for other sports projects.

 

"Just the Marlins alone," he said. "When you weight the rest of it into there, goodness only knows. It certainly doesn't get better."

 

Lee said he wouldn't expose his chamber to a public vote if there was no support for something he said has little support among the public.

 

"I don't have much optimism we're going to be able to get that issue out of committee up for a vote on the floor," Lee said Thursday.

 

When asked about the chances of the bill even coming to the floor for debate, Lee said: "Better than zero, but not a helluva lot."

 

The House voted 90-26 Wednesday for a proposal to commit the $60 million to help the Marlins build a proposed $420 million retractable-roof stadium in Miami.

 

However, that measure was loaded with money for other pro sports projects, including $60 million to refurbish the home arena for the NBA's Orlando Magic, $30 million to help Daytona Beach officials to lure a NASCAR Hall of Fame and $2 million to assist a handful of spring training sites.

 

Lee said he has not spoken to Rep. Marco Rubio, the Miami Republican and speaker-designate who is pushing for the state dollars for the Marlins ballpark. The measure managed to get into an economic development proposal on the House floor without being examined in any fiscal committees after some maneuvering by Rubio.

 

The National League team plays in a reconfigured football stadium built in the 1980s by former Miami Dolphins owner Joe Robbie near Broward County. It continues to be the Dolphins home field.

 

City and county officials have pledged $166 million for the proposed retractable-roof facility, with the Marlins agreeing to pay $192 million rent. A $32 million parking garage is expected to pay for itself through usage fees.

[CapeFish]

What is he so afraid of? How about we get this bill on the floor for debate and then a vote.

[Boog Sciambi]

f***ing great

[CapeFish]

The Senate Bill entered the Ways and Means Committee yesterday and I expect that they will argue it but they will hopefully pass it in a close vote.

 

The floor vote is important. We have 1 week left after tomorrow....Get this done!

[Fish Tank Frenzy]

Havent you all noticed that all we ever get is BAD NEWS. Just a few days ago every report said the deal is killed. Then all of a sudden it PASSES the house with very little fanfare leading up to it. The media is just playing all the angles. Dont pay so much attention to the media.

[CapeFish]

Lee is the one playing all the angles. The Senate has 40 members....Florida has 67 counties. EQUAL REPRESENTATION FOR EQUAL TAXATION!

[Teal Shadow]

What is he so afraid of? How about we get this bill on the floor for debate and then a vote.

757464[/snapback]

 

he's got a nice little payoff by our friend...any guesses?

[Flamarlins3]

Sure 30/40 is opposed the marlins alone but if packaged with the other deals that would benefit some of the other areas couldn't it possibly happen.

[Madman81]

Tom Lee sucks.

[Fish Tank Frenzy]

Tom Lee sucks.

757482[/snapback]

You couldnt of summed it up better without using choice words.

[CapeFish]

hmm....Let me check the Marlins' Senate Vote Record This Year

 

Well it has been analyzed by the Senate twice. Both reports are favorable and recommend the bill with 2 amendments.

 

In two committee votes of just the Marlins bill without the Convention Center part is...

 

YEAS: 9

NAYS: 4

 

The committee substitute for Senate Bill 1306 increases, from eight to nine, the number of

facilities for new or retained professional sports franchises that the Office of Tourism, Trade, and

Economic Development (OTTED) can certify. This committee substitute also provides that, if

previously certified, a professional sports franchise can not be granted an additional facility

certification, unless the certified facility was the home of two professional sports franchises. The

franchise continuing to use the facility will be considered the franchise forming the basis of the

previous certification, and the previous certification will apply for the time period permitted from

the original date of certification.

This committee substitute amends section 288.1162 of the Florida Statutes.

[CapeFish]

The War room is open

 

http://www.marlinbaseball.com/forums/index...showtopic=42204

[prinmemito]

Lee is the one playing all the angles. The Senate has 40 members....Florida has 67 counties. EQUAL REPRESENTATION FOR EQUAL TAXATION!

757476[/snapback]

 

Isn't that how the screw the southern part of the state?

[prinmemito]

Sure 30/40 is opposed the marlins alone but if packaged with the other deals that would benefit some of the other areas couldn't it possibly happen.

757481[/snapback]

 

I don't think 30 members oppose it. How is it possible that the bill got through two committees and yet 75 percent of the Senate is against it? He's a liar.

[fauowls44]

I'm so sick of these politicians that think they know it all. What harm is there in at least hearing the bill? Isn't that what they are up there for?

 

Anyway, I still believe that this will get heard no matter what Lee says. It's absurd that 90 representatives support the plan, but one guy in the senate doesn't want to give it the time of day. This is going to go down to the wire. I'd wouldn't take anything any of these guys say now, with a week still to go, very seriously.

[FreshFish]

This is going to be though, I think Jeb needs to step in and tell Lee that he needs to get his act together and allow the bill to be heard.

[prinmemito]

I'm so sick of these politicians that think they know it all. What harm is there in at least hearing the bill? Isn't that what they are up there for?

 

Anyway, I still believe that this will get heard no matter what Lee says. It's absurd that 90 representatives support the plan, but one guy in the senate doesn't want to give it the time of day. This is going to go down to the wire. I'd wouldn't take anything any of these guys say now, with a week still to go, very seriously.

757649[/snapback]

 

 

From what I've read, it seems Lee has quite a big ego and enjoys being in the spotlight and being the man that decides the bill's fate. This guy isn't that complicated. Our delegation simply has to stroke his ego enough to get this bill through. What a loser.

[SoFlaFish]

The information I got from an incredibly reliable source (none other than the Florida Senate Minority Leader and a partner here at my firm who I shot the breeze with for about 1/2 hour last week after his committee vote), the measure is facing a tough time in the Senate. He explains that the Sentate still has a bad taste in its mouth from the fact that Huizenga has TWO rebates for Joe Robbie Stadium and they are wary of handing out another rebate to the Fish. Furthermore, the Broward and Palm Beach delegation (in listening to their constituents) are not in favor of floating Miami-Dade County money. He told me that the opposition to this is coming from "monied interests" and "professionals" in their respective districts.

 

He told me the only way that he would support the rebate was if the money to Huizenga for the Marlins was stopped and transferred into the current rebate package to the Marlins.

 

He also told me that the prevailing attitude in the Senate is that this deal can get done without the state. They are $30M short and he said there is no way a deal can get scuttled over that "small" of a difference due to the rising real estate costs and the potential for redevelopment in the area. Rising real estate costs would be able to cover the $30M shortfall.

[*Silently Sexy*]

crazy a$$ senator Motherfu(kers...you can't belive anything else here everyday they say a god damn diffrent thing....what's so hard about a accepting a stadium for a freakin team that has had such big influence here DAMN

[EndLine]

lets get the money from the micossouke(i will never learn how to spell it) native americans. *flashback to FanFest* hehe

[CapeFish]

The Miccosukee Indian Tribe would want to put the ballpark on their property. As a private investor in the team it would work, but part owner of the ballpark is a no-go.

[CapeFish]

BTW, the feeling is that construction will begin and that they will keep returning to get funding next year. However, this year is not over yet and the chance is there.

 

It would cost more to move than wait 3-4 years to secure the extra funding. Remember that the funding would be nice to have in place at the start but they could seek it anytime during the next 30 years.

[SoFlaFish]

BTW, the feeling is that construction will begin and that they will keep returning to get funding next year. However, this year is not over yet and the chance is there.

 

It would cost more to move than wait 3-4 years to secure the extra funding. Remember that the funding would be nice to have in place at the start but they could seek it anytime during the next 30 years.

758637[/snapback]

 

Source?

[prinmemito]

BTW, the feeling is that construction will begin and that they will keep returning to get funding next year. However, this year is not over yet and the chance is there.

 

It would cost more to move than wait 3-4 years to secure the extra funding. Remember that the funding would be nice to have in place at the start but they could seek it anytime during the next 30 years.

758637[/snapback]

 

Source?

758705[/snapback]

 

Logic.

[SoFlaFish]

BTW, the feeling is that construction will begin and that they will keep returning to get funding next year. However, this year is not over yet and the chance is there.

 

It would cost more to move than wait 3-4 years to secure the extra funding. Remember that the funding would be nice to have in place at the start but they could seek it anytime during the next 30 years.

758637[/snapback]

 

Source?

758705[/snapback]

 

Logic.

758709[/snapback]

 

Logic?!?!

 

For starters, the use of the words "the feeling is..." implies that he has spoken to someone in the Senate (highly unlikely) or that he read somewhere that the Senate is "feeling" one way or another. If it were his "logic" then he should say "my feeling is", then we can qualify his answer knowing that it is probably less than 10% true.

 

However, starting a multi-million dollar construction project with a shortfall in funding is a disaster. That's like saying you got a "construction loan" to build your house for $500,000.00 and deciding to go forward with a project that you know will cost $750,000.00 with the hope that the bank will give you more money in the future, even though there are no guarantees, or that maybe your great-aunt left you $300,000.00 somewhere in her closet. The real world just doesn't work that way.