From Merriam-Webster, emphasis added by me -
The planned giveaway of public funds to Derrick Hall, owner of the Diamondbacks, is still alive.
From Civic Engagement Beyond Voting's weekly newsletter -
[snip]
The bad: stadium giveaway in the budget. Lawmakers’ pay-to-play billionaire stadium giveaway, currently stalled amid an outpouring of fierce public opposition, may get stuffed into the budget. This practice of lumping together various potentially unrelated provisions, known as “logrolling,” is intended to effectively force lawmakers to support measures they would otherwise oppose.
Of course, the likelihood of the giveaway being approved by the legislature and governor hasn't stopped apologists for the wealthy from doing some fearmongering.
From Arizona Sports -
Arizona Chamber of Commerce president doesn’t want D-backs to become ‘Utah Pika’
The Arizona Diamondbacks’ proposed tax recapture bill, according to multiple accounts, is in the final stages of approval in the Senate. But until it passes a vote of approval, there will be concern lurking for the D-backs and the small businesses in downtown Phoenix that Chase Field supports.
Arizona Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Danny Seiden on KTAR News 92.3’s The Mike Broomhead Show presented the urgency he sees with the still-tenuous situation.
Seiden likes to proclaim that he's "pro-Arizona" (in fact, he did so during this interview), but he's more pro-profit than pro-Arizona.
All of this inspired me to send a message to Governor Hobbs on the topic via her website. My message was short and sweet.
The content of that message -
Governor Hobbs -
Please don't allow the rolling of a giveaway of public money/a stadium deal into the budget.
Taking public money away from public purposes and using it to line private pockets doesn't benefit society in any way, shape, or form.
I have very little influence with Governor Hobbs and the folks around her (OK -none:) ), so two things won't surprise me (not a prediction of events, but these developments wouldn't be shocking, either):
1. The giveaway of public money to pay for renovations for a billionaire's plaything while public services are cut may happen.
Regardless of public opposition to the scheme.
2. It's early, so a 'big name" may yet jump into the race and mount a primary challenge to Governor Hobbs.)
I *do* recommend that all readers send a message to Governor Hobbs. The legislature and its members can be counted on to ignore the will of the people; Hobbs may not do so.
3 comments:
I do not see how it could be in the budget because it is not an appropriation but a diversion of funds and not just state revenue but also county and city money.
Also it goes on for years, and one legislature, generally, cannot commit future ones.
I would generally agree with you (I know! Hell may not have frozen over, but they've got a frost warning tonight), except for two things: 1. the lege has been known to ignore the law; and 2. a separate bill could still be part of a budget deal.
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