Florida

Yesteday, an attorney I met mentioned the tax breaks and incentives that sports teams in Chicago receive, specifically referring to the stadium help that the Chicago White Sox received.

Then this morning I read an article on how the same sort of stuff is occurring with America's first professional baseball team, my favorite and your's, the Cincinnati Reds. From the Sarasota Herald Tribune:

Now that the state has committed $15 million to help keep the Cincinnati Reds spring training in Sarasota, the pressure is on local officials to come up with enough money to build the new stadium the team wants.

Gov. Jeb Bush signed a bill Tuesday that gives tax breaks for spring-training facilities in five cities, including Sarasota and Bradenton — worth $15 million over 30 years.

Sarasota officials said state funding was key to efforts to keep the Cincinnati Reds, while Bradenton will use the money to refurbish Manatee County facilities used by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

I can't say that I am all that surprised. Sports teams have been playing politics for years and the use of tax breaks in exchange for staying in a locale has happened with frequency in recent times. It's a shame other teams do not abide by the San Francisco Giants' stadium plan.

What is somewhat encouraging is that Governor Bush at least acknowledged the issue:

Earlier this year, Bush seemed poised to veto the effort, saying he opposes giving tax breaks to wealthy owners of professional sports franchises.

Just a week ago, Bush said he was undecided, saying “it depends on whether my libertarian gene has been activated or my economic development gene.”

Bush said Tuesday that he signed the bill after becoming aware that Arizona “folks are using the same tactics, using government money to lure teams.”

It's not as if you need government money for economic development, but, like I said, at least J. Bush is not completely blind to the issue.