RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The top Democrat in the Virginia Senate has dealt a blow. Laws to pave the way The NBA's Washington Wizards and the NHL's Washington Capitals are moving to Northern Virginia by refusing to submit a bill for a public hearing and on Monday expressing serious concerns about the financing of the proposed deal. .
Sen. L. Louise Lucas, who holds great influence in the General Assembly as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, spoke for the first time over the weekend. on social media The bill underlying the deal negotiated by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin will not receive a hearing in his committee because it is “not ready for prime time.” The decision effectively killed the Senate bill due to this week's procedural deadline, but another bill was introduced. progress is being made The House of Representatives is also controlled by the Democratic Party.
Lucas, along with Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, took questions from reporters Monday morning, saying Youngkin has made a series of mistakes in trying to advance the proposal in the fully Democratic-controlled General Assembly after the November election. He said he had committed a crime.
That included a weekend speech at Washington and Lee University, she said. swiped widely The Democratic Party criticized him in unison, saying, “We do not believe in and do not want a strong America.”
Surovell said the caucus has concerns about whether the governor really intends to consider Democratic priorities, such as establishing recreational marijuana sales and further increasing the minimum wage, in negotiations over the arena bill. . Mr. Lucas is also seeking rate relief for the Hampton Roads area.
When asked if the deal was “dead,” Lucas bluntly replied, “As far as I'm concerned, it's dead.”
Mr. Surovell did not make any statements that went that far. In a later interview, he said he didn't think the bill was dead yet, but added: “Something is going to have to change soon for patients to get off the operating table here.” Ta.
Lucas said the changes to the House version of the bill, which would ultimately go to his committee if it passes a vote in the full House, would be enough to convince him of the proposal. I was asked if it was possible.
She responded that she is adamantly opposed to the currently planned project financing, as it involves the use of moral obligation bonds supported by the state and Alexandria. That means taxpayers could be in trouble if project revenues don't meet expectations.
“As long as the trust and confidence of this commonwealth is in full support of this project, my answer continues to be an absolute no,” she said.
Surovell said Senate Democrats asked about other ways to fund the agreement but were told “that part of the bill is untouchable.” He added that he was not aware that moral obligation bonds (typically used in Virginia to fund public infrastructure projects) were used for similar economic development projects.
Youngkin communications director Rob Damschen said in a statement that the governor remains confident that “the Legislature will come together because this project is good for the entire commonwealth.”
“This will create 30,000 jobs, generate billions of dollars in new revenue, expand toll relief in Portsmouth, increase funding for Interstate 81, and expand rural and urban areas across the Commonwealth.” This will free up new funding for schooling,” Damschen said.
Senate Republicans criticized Lucas for refusing to give the bill a committee vote, characterizing the move as a “pocket veto” of the governor's priorities.
Youngkin and entrepreneur Ted Leonsis, a super-wealthy former AOL executive and CEO of the team's parent company, Monumental Sports & Entertainment. announced in december announced that they have reached an agreement to relocate the Capitals and Wizards.
The proposed new venue in Alexandria is just a few miles from where the team currently plays in Washington.
A bill currently before Congress would create a sports and entertainment authority that would issue bonds to help pay for the project. The bond would be repaid with a combination of revenue from the arena and extensive development surrounding it, including ticket taxes, parking fees, concession taxes, income taxes on players performing at the arena, and naming rights from the district. . .
Monumental CEO Monica Dixon said in a written statement Monday that the company is having “healthy discussions” with General Assembly leaders and Alexandria City Council members, who also need to agree to the deal. He said there is. Dixon said the company was encouraged by Friday's vote in a House committee on the bill, which passed 17-3.
In an op-ed published in Sunday's Washington Post, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser told Monumental to consider the city's $500 million proposal to be used to renovate Washington's Capital One Arena. I urged him to do so. Bowser said the city will enforce the terms of the lease if Monumental leaves for Virginia.
Under the deal, the Capitals and Wizards were expected to play at Capital One Arena until 2047, but both teams could play at Capital One Arena as early as 2027 as long as they fully repay the currently outstanding $35 million in bonds. You may also cancel the contract.
However, there is no provision for Monumental to terminate its lease with the WNBA's Washington Mystics, who play in a smaller arena in the city and have a lease obligation through 2037.
Monumental said in December that it wanted to move the Mystics to Capital One Arena when the Wizards and Mystics move to Virginia. However, Monumental said in a social media statement in response to Bowser on Sunday that it would keep the Mystics in the smaller arena until 2037 if the city insists.
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Associated Press writer Matthew Barakat contributed to this report from Falls Church.
