PA Gov. Tom Ridge "could decide as early as [today]
whether bypassing legislative approval and spending state
money on Pittsburgh stadiums is legally feasible or
politically wise," according to Dvorchak & Heltzel of the
PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE. But Ridge's spokesperson Tim
Reeves said the Gov. has "serious concerns" about House Bill
907, "routine housekeeping legislation" that features a
component which would allow Ridge "to allot money" to the
Pittsburgh stadiums "without the need for lawmakers to
authorize a higher state debt limit." Ridge said that he
"will weigh lawmakers' claims that they were fooled into
passing the bill." Ridge had hoped to see stadium financing
approved directly by the Legislature, but that option "was
blocked" when House leaders said Friday that they wouldn't
call the Legislature back in session today to vote on the
stadium funding issue. Now Ridge "is in a tough spot," as
his promise of state money "was a crucial element of the so-
called `Plan B' public-private stadium financing" proposal
in Pittsburgh. The Legislature adjourned until January, and
it is "unlikely" a vote will come before the city hoped to
break ground on the Pirates' new ballpark, putting the
team's future in "jeopardy" (POST-GAZETTE, 11/29).
GREAT MISTAKE: The Legislature "inadvertently" passed
Bill 907 last week, which would make the stadium projects
"exempt from the cap on how much money the state can borrow
for major building projects" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE,
11/29). Steelers VP Art Rooney said the team wanted the
Legislature to approve the stadium financing bill: "The
Steelers would prefer not to pursue state funding under
House Bill 907, and we intend to advise the governor of this
position. We did not ask for the (bill) to be proposed, nor
did we pursue its passage." Pirates VP Steve Greenberg said
the team had no comment (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 11/30).
Eagles Exec VP Joe Banner said says passage of 907 allowing
stadium funding in Pittsburgh would make it harder for
Philadelphia to go back to the Legislature for stadium
financing next year: "That would hurt. To be a Pennsylvania
taxpayer from Philadelphia, and paying for new stadiums in
Pittsburgh and not getting any of the benefits in
Philadelphia, is the worst of all possibilities"
(PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 11/30). Phillies Chair Bill Giles
said he was "still optimistic" a ballpark deal could be done
"in January or February" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 11/28).
