A 3% car rental tax bill to help finance infrastructure
costs near a proposed new Hawks arena was passed by the GA
Senate, according to this morning's ATLANTA CONSTITUTION.  The
legislation was requested by the city as part of a $215M project
with Turner Broadcasting to replace the Omni.  The tax is
expected to generate $5.2M a year through 2038 (Lucy Soto,
ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 3/14).

     Last night, The MD Senate "tentatively approved" $270.5M
toward infrastructure costs for a proposed Redskins stadium and
to build a new Baltimore stadium, according to the Baltimore SUN.
In a "key test," the Senate "narrowly rejected" an amendment
which would have diverted $19M from the projects to Baltimore
school construction.  While final Senate approval is likely this
week, the deals must still clear the MD House (Jensen & Smith,
Baltimore SUN, 3/14).  Also, Redskins Owner Jack Kent Cooke has
signed an agreement with Prince George's County and MD Gov.
Parris Glendening, which should "clear the way" for the team to
begin construction (Charles Babington, WASHINGTON POST, 3/14).