MA LEADERS INTRODUCE STADIUM BILL, BUT IS KRAFT ON BOARD?

          MA Gov. Paul Cellucci unveiled legislation yesterday on
     a new $225M Foxboro Stadium and "pledged to work" with
     Foxboro officials to "expedite the permitting process" so
     the facility could be ready by 2001, according to Tina
     Cassidy of the BOSTON GLOBE.  The state-backed $70M
     financing plan "is expected to pass" both the House and
     Senate, and both branches are "scheduled to begin debate" on
     the bill next Tuesday, one day after a public hearing. 
     Cassidy reports that "none" of the state's leaders "have
     spoken" to Patriots Owner Robert Kraft "about whether" the
     deal reached by NFL and MA leaders is acceptable to him, and
     Kraft "was conspicuously absent from yesterday's
     announcement."  Patriots Dir of Media Relations Stacey James
     said the team would "withhold comment until after the
     Legislature votes on the bill" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/12).