Paul Allen's "grass-roots" campaign to win legislative
support for a new stadium "has run amok, say lawmakers, some
of whom are instructing their staffs just to say no to what
they characterize as a steady stream of aggressive,
obnoxious and profanity-laden calls and e-mail messages from
fans on both sides of the controversy," according to Rachel
Zimmerman of the SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER. WA State Rep.
Ida Ballasiotes, R-Mercer Island, on the House floor: "Our
offices have been inundated with callers regarding the
stadium issue. They have been abusive and obscene. Our
legislative aides do not have to tolerate this behavior."
Ballasiotes' comments "got a standing ovation" from Members.
The House "is expected to vote this week" on a stadium
financing plan that would "ask voters statewide to decide if
they want a package of specialty taxes" to help build the
$425M stadium and exhibition center. Sue Tupper, the
political consultant for Allen's Football Northwest
campaign: "Three weeks ago, all I read in the newspaper and
all I saw on television were legislators saying, 'I'm not
inclined to move on this because I'm not hearing from the
people.' Now they're having standing ovations on the floor
of the House saying they can't take all the callers"
(SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 4/13).
LOGO TAX: WA State Rep. Steve Van Luven said he is
drafting a new funding bill to take some revenue from the
new stadium's luxury boxes, club seats, concessions and
advertising to replace the "increasingly unpopular" sports
logo tax. Van Luven said he needs about $10M from projected
stadium revenues to replace the logo tax. Van Luven said if
he replaces the logo tax, "I think I can get (a House
majority) with this." Allen's aide, Bert Kolde, said any
changes to the sports logo tax "could make it unlikely that
Allen would buy the team" (Tacoma NEWS TRIBUNE, 4/12).
