Duels with dollars are fought in the State Senate, and the winner is the stadium bill. The Senate has passed it and sent it to the House, with its $644-Million price tag. The bill provides state subsidies for convention andtourism facilities in Branson and Springfield, and stadium work in Kansas City and St. Louis. Rolla Senator Sarah Steelman says the state’s own economic studies undermine claims by backers that the bill is good for the state. But the bill passes on a 19-14 vote. If the bill makes it through the Legislature this year, the first state money would be going into the projects no sooner than two years from now.
