RIDGE STILL FACES A TOUGH SELL ON PA STADIUM FINANCING

          PA Gov. Tom Ridge continues to "pitch" for new stadiums
     in the state to "what has proven to be one of his toughest
     audiences -- members of the House Republican caucus,"
     according to Reeves & Shelly of the PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE. 
     Ridge met with about 70 GOP members last week and was "well-
     received," but when he made his bid for up to $325M in new
     stadium funding, observers said, "No one clapped."  One
     lawmaker: "He talked up stadiums, and it just isn't
     happening."  Ridge is hoping for a vote by February 10, and
     several Ridge staffers say that stadium-funding backers "may
     actually have lost ground, since the bill failed to pass the
     House in November (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 1/17).  
          TEAM BUILDING: In Pittsburgh, Peter Shelly reported on
     the "impressive lineup of lobbyists" that will aid PA's
     teams on the stadium legislation.  While the teams "have
     built a balanced lineup, with lobbyists from the east and
     west," they still face "tough odds in the House ... where
     lobbyists have not fared well" (POST-GAZETTE, 1/16).