In an 8-4 vote late Thursday afternoon, the committee quashed any speculation that stadium opponents walked into the committee with enough votes kill the bill.

The bill now moves to the House Council for Smarter Government, an oversight committee that includes among its members the bill's author, Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Miami).

It also includes committee member Rep. Gustavo Barriero (R-Miami), who offered strong public comment in favor of the bill during Thursday's committee hearing.

If it gains favor from the oversight committee, the bill then moves to the House floor for a full vote. It must gain consensus by May 4--the day the Florida Legislature adjourns the 2001 session--with a companion bill now traveling through the state Senate. It also must survive a gubernatorial veto.

The bill, as amended in committee action last month, would authorize the appropriation of sales tax the ball club collects on future stadium revenue to help defray construction-financing costs--most likely backed by a local-issue, revenue-funding municipal bond.

It would not include the estimated $1.5 million in annual sales tax the ball club now collects and submits to state coffers.

It appears three amendments offered Thursday salvaged the House bill from potential defeat, which would have scuttled a construction project estimated to cost between $385 million and $521 million.

One amendment, offered by committee member Timothy M. Ryan (D-Fort Lauderdale) requires Miami-Dade County to retain title to the stadium.

"If it's ever transferred out of the public hands, the state is entitled to the rebate," Ryan says.

Another amendment, proposed by committee member Rep. Marco Rubio (R-Miami), would require Florida Marlins Baseball Club to reimburse the state a certain amount of the bond stadium financing cost in event the ball club's ownership ever sells the club for a profit.

"It will be part of a lease agreement," Rubio says. "It would bind the seller. It would be a violation of the lease if they didn't pay that. The state would have the right to go after them in court."

The third amendment, proposed by committee member Rep. Connie Mack (R-Fort Lauderdale), would require the public-private venture between the ball club, the city and the county to prepay annual bonded debt payments with any excess sales tax proceeds above the amount already pledged to pay that debt service.

"It would be prudent if we could pay off the bond and reduce the length of the time of the bond," Mack says. "That would have a positive impact on the whole bonding issue."

Instant Insights /

Lawmakers' Triple Play Saves the Day for Marlins Stadium

Related Stories

Recommended For You