Check out the line about feeling "a chill." Link

 

LEGISLATURE 2006

Marlins bill ran out of time

Bad clock management, bad luck and clever opponents helped doom the latest plan in the Legislature to help build a $430 million Marlins baseball park with tax subsidies.

BY MARC CAPUTO

mcaputo@MiamiHerald.com

 

* Updates | Florida Marlins

 

TALLAHASSEE - A $60 million tax subsidy to build a new Florida Marlins stadium -- sought by the baseball team since 2000 -- died just before midnight Friday as crestfallen Miami-Dade lawmakers powerlessly watched their colleagues in the House chew up time debating other legislation.

 

There was plenty of blame to go around on the final day of the two-month lawmaking session: From the parliamentary tactics used by both opponents and proponents to worries about corporate welfare and insurance troubles to an odd speech in the Florida House of Representatives about the fabled battle of Thermopylae.

 

The defeat in the House was a cruel twist for the ballpark's backers who noted that, until Friday, the Senate was the subsidy's death chamber. This time, three Miami-Dade senators swiftly and secretly stitched together the plan and the votes only three days before the end of the session -- a late maneuver that helped to doom the plan, which even the Marlins knew nothing of.

 

''From what I saw, the House was not being respectful of the promise that they would take it up,'' said Sen. Rudy Garcia, a Republican from Hialeah, where the Marlins are interested in building the retractable-roof ballpark.

 

''I was appalled. We finally had a vehicle. We finally had a plan to get this done. I helped walk the bill over myself,'' Garcia said. ``But as soon as I saw the House speaker, he smiled at me and turned away. I felt a chill.''

 

Tick. Tick. Tick.

 

There were 17 minutes left in the session, and Rep. Don Brown, R-DeFuniak Springs, was speaking about a big insurance reform package, sponsored by Garcia in the Senate, for the state-run insurer of last resort, Citizens Property Insurance.

 

Brown's long speech covered every aspect of the bill, which calls for big rate increases. He urged lawmakers to have courage like that of the outnumbered legion of Greeks who died while holding off Persian invaders at Thermopylae in 480 B.C.

 

Tick. Tick.

 

The House soon approved the insurance bill at 11:45 p.m. Next up: a cancer-drug donation bill. It had a controversial final-day amendment attached that weakened strict guarantees to ensure prescription drug quality, said opponent Rep. Mark Mahon, R-Jacksonville.

 

Mahon spoke against the bill and instantly felt the glare of Rivera and Miami Republican Rep. J.C. Planas. ''I didn't realize what was going on,'' Mahon said. ``People get irritated when it's 11:55 p.m. and you're in the way of their bill.''

 

Tick.

 

Miami's Marco Rubio, who is to succeed Panama City's Allan Bense as House speaker this year, spoke to his fellow Republican at the podium. The cancer-drug bill passed at 11:59 p.m. despite Mahon's entreaties.

 

IT'S OVER

 

The gavel fell.

 

''It's midnight. We're done,'' Bense said.

 

Bense later said he wanted to vote for the bill, but it arrived too late. He said there was no way to extend the 60-day lawmaking session because many in the Legislature wanted to go home.

 

Planas said he didn't think Mahon was trying to sabotage the Marlins.

 

''He felt passionately about the issue and he was right to say what he said. For us, the Marlins bill was a rally in the ninth inning when we were down by five runs. The other team made a good catch at the end and that was that,'' Planas said.

 

``To quote The Godfather: This is the business we chose.''

 

And the business of the Legislature follows its own timetable. Throughout the last day, the House and Senate stopped and started amid the backroom negotiations of the insurance package. The Marlins proposal was still being hammered out.

 

Under the proposal, either Miami-Dade County or the city of Hialeah would have built the $430 million stadium, which would have received $2 million annually for 30 years.

 

The subsidy is part of a state program governing the seven existing tax breaks for ballparks. Teams that show they can generate more than $2 million annually in sales tax collections get that amount of money from the state. And once a team qualifies for the subsidy, it gets the money even if it doesn't generate the $2 million in tax money in future years.

 

The Marlins, under previous owner H. Wayne Huizenga, won the subsidy already. So the new bill allowed the team and any other sports franchise to receive the subsidy twice, but only with future legislative approval. The bill also sought to make sure the money was not rebated to a team if it didn't generate $2 million in sales tax collection.

 

SENATE SPEED BUMP

 

When the proposal hit the Senate, Sen. Jim King, an opponent of the ''corporate welfare'' of sports teams subsidies, was one of the first speed bumps.

 

''If you think this is anywhere near the end of the dipping into the public coffers to support sports franchises, you're crazy,'' King said.

 

King also pointed out the ''absurd'' appearance of sticking insurance customers with higher rates while giving tax breaks to sports teams.

 

The Legislature, though, did approve a subsidy bill for baseball spring-training facilities and a guaranteed $60 million tax break for the Orlando Magic basketball team. But senators refused to add the Marlins to that bill. Instead, they added the Marlins language to a stand-alone Magic subsidy bill, which became worthless once the Magic was given the subsidy in the spring-training legislation.

 

In protest, Rep. David Riviera, R-Miami, cast a protest vote against the spring-training bill.

 

''The moment the Senate stripped the Orlando Magic away from the Marlins,'' Rivera said. ``I thought South Florida was being set up.''

 

Staff writers Mary Ellen Klas, Gary Fineout and Jennifer Mooney-Piedra contributed to this report

Makes me feel all cozy about politics...

 

These people shold lose their jobs. Theyre elected to do the job, in this case, tovote whether for or against the bills. To sabatoge one for on grounds of personal opinion of few.. thats corruption..

That is dispicable. I hate the fact that people are allowed to misuse power like this. If one chamber approves something, the other should have the decency to at least hear the bill in a timely manner. If they do not like the bill it is certainly within their power to vote against it. I am sure that if a stadium is built in Hialeah that the House speaker will have no problem reaping the benefits that a new stadium will bring to the state.

Nothing will stop the local delegation from introducing a subsidy for the Marlins next year. They can structure a deal with options depending upon whether the subsidy passes or not.

Nothing will stop the local delegation from introducing a subsidy for the Marlins next year. They can structure a deal with options depending upon whether the subsidy passes or not.

 

 

There may not be a "next year".

Nothing will stop the local delegation from introducing a subsidy for the Marlins next year. They can structure a deal with options depending upon whether the subsidy passes or not.

 

 

There may not be a "next year".

yeah because by next next year the construction will already have began in hialeah...this piece of legislation wasnt vital to getting the marlins a stadium...what this political meandering has shown me is that it should be the MIAMI MARLINS...and dont tell me it will alienate people in broward county because it wont...the idea is to alienate all the northern florida voters and politicians who choose not to let us have a stadium but are still the same people who when the marlins win their next title will say they were there all along...im sorry but f*** those people :whistle

Nothing will stop the local delegation from introducing a subsidy for the Marlins next year. They can structure a deal with options depending upon whether the subsidy passes or not.

 

 

There may not be a "next year".

yeah because by next next year the construction will already have began in hialeah...this piece of legislation wasnt vital to getting the marlins a stadium...what this political meandering has shown me is that it should be the MIAMI MARLINS...and dont tell me it will alienate people in broward county because it wont...the idea is to alienate all the northern florida voters and politicians who choose not to let us have a stadium but are still the same people who when the marlins win their next title will say they were there all along...im sorry but f*** those people :whistle

How about The South Florida Marlins... :thumbup

if the St. Petersberg Devil Rays can be called the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, the Hialieah Marlins can be called the Miami Marlins.

This aint a conspiracy, this is true fact. Northern Floridians are jealous and hate South Florida. If it wasnt for South Florida, North Florida would have no tax money to do anything. North Florida would be another Alabama or Arkansas (no offense to anyone living in those fine states).

It's clear these a-holes don't care about the Marlins.

 

And who are the Magic again?!

This aint a conspiracy, this is true fact. Northern Floridians are jealous and hate South Florida. If it wasnt for South Florida, North Florida would have no tax money to do anything. North Florida would be another Alabama or Arkansas (no offense to anyone living in those fine states).

 

Yes and it's been that way as far back as I can remember!

Nothing will stop the local delegation from introducing a subsidy for the Marlins next year. They can structure a deal with options depending upon whether the subsidy passes or not.

 

 

There may not be a "next year".

yeah because by next next year the construction will already have began in hialeah...this piece of legislation wasnt vital to getting the marlins a stadium...what this political meandering has shown me is that it should be the MIAMI MARLINS...and dont tell me it will alienate people in broward county because it wont...the idea is to alienate all the northern florida voters and politicians who choose not to let us have a stadium but are still the same people who when the marlins win their next title will say they were there all along...im sorry but f*** those people :whistle

 

 

Miami doesn't deserve to be represented by the Marlins.

 

The only city this team should represent is Hialeah. But we will never see the Hialeah Marlins because of marketing purposes.

Miami doesn't deserve to be represented by the Marlins.

 

The only city this team should represent is Hialeah. But we will never see the Hialeah Marlins because of marketing purposes.

 

 

 

Agreed. The state of Florida doesn't deserve it either. I second the South Florida Marlins, but as with the Hialeah Marlins, that won't happen for marketing purposes. They'll either stay with "Florida" or change to "Miami", neither deserve it though.

Miami doesn't deserve to be represented by the Marlins.

 

The only city this team should represent is Hialeah. But we will never see the Hialeah Marlins because of marketing purposes.

 

 

 

Agreed. The state of Florida doesn't deserve it either. I second the South Florida Marlins, but as with the Hialeah Marlins, that won't happen for marketing purposes. They'll either stay with "Florida" or change to "Miami", neither deserve it though.

 

Yeah but Miami Dade is a main contributor to the stadium therefore I have no problem if its called Miami Marlins. Yeah the northern part of Florida has no f_cking clue.

This aint a conspiracy, this is true fact.

 

 

i completely agree, but i think you're mixing up the word "conspiracy" with "paranoia"

They should call them "The Miami-Dade Marlins of Hialeah" something like .....the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

The question is: why incur in the enourmous expense of changing the name on everything? And for what? To get back at the politicians? That's like (to coin a phrase) cutting off your nose to spite your face.

 

Save that money; leave the name as is. There are other ways -- better ways -- of getting back at those boneheads in the Government.

They should call them "The Miami-Dade Marlins of Hialeah" something like .....the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

 

 

The South Florida Marlins of Hialeah sounds better.

They should call them "The Miami-Dade Marlins of Hialeah" something like .....the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

 

 

thats the dumbest thing i've heard...its bad enough anaheim gets made fun of..lets not let the marlins get made fun of more than they already have...we've suffered enough humiliation...to change the name to something like that and on top of that to ADD hialeah to the name??!?!?!? are you KIDDING ME??!?!?! as a poster above said...LEAVE THE NAME and SAVE THAT MONEY

Actually, I would think a name change would make the team a lot more money than it would cost them. Just think of all the new stuff they get to sell with the new team name and all that. Not that I want the name changed or anything. I mean, would it really cost the team anything?? The name change would occur for a new stadium, which means all the signage is new anyways. There won't really be an added expense in uniforms, cause they are still just new uniforms. Maybe the cost of a new design or two, but teams are constantly looking for new designs anyways.. I just don't see where this Enormous Expense is coming from.

I've always been in favor of keeping the name because we've won 2 championships with it and because I love the logo. However, the Marlins really are South Florida's team so I wouldn't mind South Florida Marlins. Most of us don't relate to the rest of Florida and vice versa.

Actually, I would think a name change would make the team a lot more money than it would cost them. Just think of all the new stuff they get to sell with the new team name and all that. Not that I want the name changed or anything. I mean, would it really cost the team anything?? The name change would occur for a new stadium, which means all the signage is new anyways. There won't really be an added expense in uniforms, cause they are still just new uniforms. Maybe the cost of a new design or two, but teams are constantly looking for new designs anyways.. I just don't see where this Enormous Expense is coming from.

 

 

I agree, we've won two championships already under it and i really like the logo

The State of Florida has refused to help the Marlins five times. Therefore, "Florida" should not be in the name of the team.

 

If "Florida" is left out, that means "South Florida" is also out.

 

Hialeah will benefit economically and will receive much deserved publicity from having the stadium built within the city limits. However I think the city is not well known enough to have the team named after it.

 

The biggest monetary contributor to the team is Miami-Dade county. Palm Beach and Broward counties have contributed absolutely nothing. While I agree that the stadium location should be easily accessible to all three counties, I believe the name of the team should be the "Miami Marlins"

 

By the way, I live in south Miami-Dade county, not in the city of Miami. The proposed location is as far as it can possibly be from me and still be in Miami-Dade county. I still agree with the site because it is more convenient for the fans from Broward and Palm Beach. I really don't think the fans from these two counties will be bothered by the name change. Specially since all of us are probably equally frustrated at how the Florida State Legislature has treated our Marlins.

Miami doesn't deserve to be represented by the Marlins.

 

The only city this team should represent is Hialeah. But we will never see the Hialeah Marlins because of marketing purposes.

 

And isn't that the only reason that counts?

Miami doesn't deserve to be represented by the Marlins.

 

The only city this team should represent is Hialeah. But we will never see the Hialeah Marlins because of marketing purposes.

 

And isn't that the only reason that counts?

 

Ahem.

 

Where there's a thread there's rferry to make a correction. :lol

 

 

:lol