Some Republican state lawmakers say they’ll shut down the budget process to keep a new NFL stadium from being built without legislative approval.
An artist’s drawing of the proposed NFL stadium on the St. Louis riverfront.
The Missouri Development Finance Board approved $15-million in tax credits in another step toward paying for a new NFL stadium in St. Louis, but Republican lawmakers say they’ll vote to block paying the debt on bonds that would make up another part of the cost.
Senator Rob Schaaf (R-St. Joseph) says for bonds to be issued without legislative approval is unconstitutional.
“Do your listeners really believe that many years ago when the law was passed authorizing bonding for the Edward Jones Dome, that they intended that they could just go ahead and bond for a second St. Louis Football Stadium?” Schaaf asked Missourinet. “Is there any possible way that was the intention?”
Schaaf says the public announcement he and Senator Ed Emery (R-Lamar) have made of their intentions represent a warning to anyone who might consider buying such bonds.
“The bond issuers have a fiduciary duty to notify potential bond buyers that legislators are planning to block the appropriation,” said Schaaf.
Governor Jay Nixon (D) says lawmakers have been given since January to look at the plan he’s laid out.
“The choice in front of us was, if you back up a little bit, was clear here, and I think we’re coming about this in a cost-effective way and ultimately that’s something that people will respect and support,” said Nixon. “The fact that a couple of legislators are opposed to something? Well, there’s a whole lot of legislators.”
