WA GOVERNOR LOCKE DROPS SPORTS LOGO TAX PROPOSAL FOR STADIUM

          WA Gov. Gary Locke "broke the Seahawks stadium logjam"
     yesterday by "dumping a controversial" sports logo tax that
     was blocking the chance for a statewide vote on a new
     Seahawks stadium, according to Ed Penhale of the SEATTLE
     POST-INTELLIGENCER.  Replacing the retail tax on sports logo
     merchandise is a $50M up-front contribution from potential
     Seahawks Owner Paul Allen and an eight-year extension of the
     hotel-motel tax in King County currently set to expire in
     2012.  Allen's representatives "all but endorsed" the new
     package, saying they would have to "study it overnight" to
     make sure it meets his requirements for a public-private
     partnership on the stadium.  Lawmakers "likely" will approve
     the new package before the legislative session ends Sunday. 
     Penhale adds that after Microsoft stock jumped $9.50 a share
     Friday, boosting Allen's net worth about $1B to nearly $11B,
     House members grew "increasingly testy" about Allen's
     "refusal" to contribute any more than $100M to the $425M
     project (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 4/23).