CHRISTMAS comes EVERYDAY for the Rich and Powerful, at the expense of Taxpayers of Chicago and Illinois who cover the Millionaires that dont pay taxes... Why on Earth are we giving tax dollars to subsidize the wealthy individuals who own professional sports teams? It makes no sense. It’s corporate welfare at its worst. The best excuse I’ve heard is, other states and cities do it. Well, sports subsidies got their illegitimate birth right here in the Prairie State. And there is no reason their death can’t begin here in the Land of Lincoln as well. I witnessed first-hand the traumatic delivery of the nation’s first major sports subsidy bill. In the waning minutes of June 30, 1988, then-Gov. James Thompson literally was racing against the clock to pass a $120 million subsidy for the White Sox, who were threatening to move to Florida. The measure needed to pass before midnight, when the legislative session would go into overtime and a supermajority would be needed to pass legislation. The measure had the support of House Speaker Mike Madigan, a diehard Sox fan. Former state Rep. Bill Black, R-Danville, once told me this type of idea was a new concept in 1988. “We have seen it happen over and over again across the country since then, but back then it was really unheard of,” he said. “This would not have even come to a vote without Mike Madigan. They said it was being done for economic development. But that area around the ballpark — I still call it Comiskey Park — hasn’t improved. The only thing I can see that has changed is that Chicago has the highest or second-highest hotel taxes of any major American city.” The White Sox paid no rent until 2008. Since the club doesn’t own the facility, it pays no property taxes. The original Sox deal has led to others. The United Center, home to the Bulls and the Blackhawks, was privately financed, but the building has a special property tax break that saves the clubs millions in property taxes. In 2003, the Chicago Bears’ Soldier Field renovation was completed with the assistance of a $387 million Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, or ISFA, bond, to be paid back with interest from Chicago hotel and motel taxes. When the White Sox subsidy vote was brought before the House, a majority of lawmakers voted against the proposal. But instead of counting the votes, the presiding officer — a top Madigan lieutenant — left the roll call open as Thompson walked to the desk of each lawmaker voting “no” and persuaded them one by one to change their votes. The last lawmaker necessary to make a majority switched his vote when the hands on the main clock in the House Chamber were a few minutes past midnight, but the presiding officer, Majority Leader Jim McPike, said it was a few minutes before midnight on his watch and declared the bill passed. It was a sleazy beginning to a slimy practice of giving money to help the rich fellas who own sports teams. Many other jurisdictions have followed Illinois’ lead in this shameful practice. It’s time for Illinois to take the lead again and say “no” top these types of subsidies.
Posted on: Fri, 19 Dec 2014 23:53:10 +0000
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