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House Republican vows to fight Nixon on using bond money to fund new NFL stadium

HOK|360 ARCHITECTURE

One of the Missouri House's budget writers is warning Gov. Jay Nixon to change his stance on pursuing funding for a new NFL stadium without a vote of the people.

Rep. Scott Fitzpatrick, R-Shell Knob, is vice chair of the House select committee on the state budget. In a letter to Nixon, a Democrat, he said he won't support any budget bill next year that includes funding for debt service on bonds issued for a new NFL stadium in St. Louis.

"Furthermore, I will do everything within my power ... to ensure that this plan does not go forward unless there is first an affirmative vote of the people or the General Assembly specifically authorizing the issuance of debt for that purpose," Fitzpatrick said.

He also writes in his letter that the legislature "never intended" for statutes that authorized bonds used to build the Edward Jones Dome to be used to pay for a second stadium.

"Our state constitution gives the power to appropriate money exclusively to the legislature," Fitzpatrick said. "The executive branch should not bind Missourians to additional debt without the approval of the people or their elected representatives."

Credit HOK|360 ARCHITECTURE

Fitzpatrick finishes by telling Nixon that he would "bear full responsibility for any damage to Missouri's credit rating." He said the reason the letter was made public was to warn any potential bond purchasers of "my concerns and my intended course of action."

A spokesperson for Nixon says they "won't have a response on this today."

Earlier this month, St. Louis circuit judge Thomas Frawley ruled that voter approval is not necessary for public funds to be used to finance a new stadium.

Last week, the Missouri Development Finance Board voted to provide $15 million in tax credits this year for the proposed new stadium in St. Louis, the first step in providing up to $50 million in incentives through 2017. Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder was the only board member to vote "no."

A task force created by Nixon is proposing to build a $998 million, 64,000-seat stadium on the St. Louis riverfront, in the hopes of keeping the Rams in St. Louis or, barring that, attracting another NFL franchise to relocate.

Rams owner Stan Kroenke has proposed building an 80,000-seat stadium in Inglewood, Calif., about 12 miles from downtown Los Angeles.

Follow Marshall Griffin on Twitter:  @MarshallGReport

Copyright 2021 St. Louis Public Radio. To see more, visit St. Louis Public Radio.

Missouri Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a proud alumnus of the University of Mississippi (a.k.a., Ole Miss), and has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off the old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Mason, and their cat, Honey.
Marshall Griffin
St. Louis Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a native of Mississippi and proud alumnus of Ole Miss (welcome to the SEC, Mizzou!). He has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off an old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Liberty Belle, and their cat, Honey.
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