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Ridge concedes more cash will be needed $500 million won't be enough to fund projects Thursday, January 07, 1999 By Peter J. Shelly, Post-Gazette Harrisburg Correspondent
HARRISBURG - The price of stadium poker is apparently creeping up. For the first time, the Ridge administration all but conceded yesterday what many lawmakers and staffers have been saying since November: $500 million isn't enough.
Gov. Ridge has been pushing legislation to raise the state debt ceiling to provide as much as $500 million for major building projects statewide, including $300 million to $325 million for four new professional sports stadiums, two each for Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
But the governor and the teams failed to persuade the state House to support the legislation in November as that two-year legislative session was ending. The Senate did pass it, though, and would probably do so again this year.
But several legislative staffers yesterday said stadium backers still face steep odds in the House.
Ridge spokesman Tim Reeves said the governor's proposal for raising the debt ceiling would be more than $500 million. It also will include so-called "taxpayer protection" provisions, such as financial penalties if teams break their leases. Such provisions are already part of agreements the Steelers and Pirates have signed with the city-county Public Auditorium Authority.
The administration will unveil its proposal within the next few weeks. Reeves wouldn't reveal how much higher the debt ceiling figure would be.
Reeves did say Ridge wasn't willing to trade projects for votes. Yet he noted that the administration in the past has helped with projects dear to those lawmakers who have cast tough votes on major initiatives.
"We are not making commitments explicitly. And we are not saying [to lawmakers] that we can't make a commitment and then winking at them," Reeves said, but then added: "We have a record of being receptive to people who cast tough votes with us. Relationships count."
Ridge has turned to organized labor to help him persuade reluctant House members to support the legislation. He and Labor & Industry Secretary Johnny Butler yesterday asked about 30 labor leaders from around the state to assist in lobbying lawmakers.
Two years ago, the governor sought labor's help when he wanted the Legislature to approve a $400 million gas tax and registration fee increase. That aid proved invaluable then, administration staffers said yesterday.
Labor leaders will make the same argument to lawmakers this time around: The legislation is about three things - jobs, jobs, jobs - union leaders said.
"This is about putting together an economic development package for the entire state, not just Pittsburgh and Philadelphia," said Richard Stanizzo, business manager for the Pittsburgh Building Trades Council.
Reeves said the administration wants a vote by Feb. 10, when the Legislature breaks for several weeks of budget hearings.
Also yesterday, Sen. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, said he was pushing two proposals to raise money to pay off the debt service on the stadium bonds with money that comes from sports fans only - not all taxpayers. He wants the Legislature to consider charging 25 cents extra for each beverage sold at stadiums during professional sports games and the state's 6 percent sales tax on apparel officially licensed by pro sports leagues. Murphy said those two charges would generate a combined $20 million a year.
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