BRIMER'S BILL IN TEXAS AMENDED IN HOUSE COMMITTEE

          The TX House Business and Industry Committee passed the
     Brimer bill on sports facilities financing yesterday, but
     the measure "still faces formidable challenges before the
     full House and Senate," according to John Moritz of the FT.
     WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM.  The bill allows "voters in Texas
     cities and some counties to impose an array of local taxes
     to finance athletic facilities" (FT. WORTH STAR TELEGRAM,
     4/10).  The bill includes a 10% rental car fee and a $5
     daily hotel occupancy tax, among other funding mechanisms. 
     On Wednesday, it was amended "to allow communities to impose
     a $5,000 locker room fee on professional teams that use such
     facilities and to let cities dedicate transportation sales
     tax dollars" (John Williams, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 4/10).