The state House plans to restore a $12-million dollar payment on maintenance and debt on the NFL stadium in St. Louis, after getting assurances the money won’t go to anything but maintenance and debt.
Edward Jones Dome. (photo/stadiumjourney.com)
House Budget Committee Chairman Tom Flanigan (R-Carthage) said legislative budget leaders were, “hesitant to move forward with a spending plan that includes funding for the [stadium] without first receiving an assurance from the governor that he will not use state funds for other purposes, such as a new soccer stadium.”
A House budget subcommittee voted last week to remove the money for that payment, but Flanigan says it will be restored.
Flanigan continues, “we have now received assurances from both the governor and his staff that if appropriated, the funds will be utilized only for the purposes of debt payment and maintenance for the dome. These assurances combined with the restrictive language we plan to add in HB 2005 have prompted us to now move forward with the full $12-million in appropriations for debt payment and maintenance.
“The governor has repeatedly said that Missouri pays its bills, and we are trusting that he will honor that commitment by utilizing these funds to pay the debt and maintenance on the [stadium] rather than try to work around the legislature to finance a new soccer stadium.”