SEATTLE VOTERS TO DECIDE ABOUT NEW STADIUM AND MARINERS

     Members of the WA House voted 57-34 to approve a measure
that will allow the citizens of King County to vote on whether to
raise the county sales tax to pay for a new stadium for the
Mariners, according to the SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER.
Specifically, the bill would raise the county sales tax from 8.2%
to 8.3%.  This money would then cover most of the costs
associated with building a new stadium with a retractable roof.
Mariners ownership has suggested that they might sell the team if
they don't get a new stadium because playing in the Kingdome,
they "cannot earn a profit."  While Senate Majority Leader Marcus
Gaspard said "he did not know" whether the Senate would agree to
the bill, WA Gov. Mike Lowry "would be likely to sign the bill"
(Michael Paulson, SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 5/20).