Check out the senator's comments about OKC...

I wonder what Clay Bennett and the other Sonics owners -- who leave Seattle all the time for their homes in OKC -- think about what she had to say.

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Friday, April 13, 2007 · Last updated 1:53 p.m. PT
Sonics bill makes progress in Legislature
But time running out for team this year

By CHRIS McGANN
P-I REPORTER

OLYMPIA -- A tax package for the Seattle Sonics' new arena finally passed out of the gate Friday with an oral vote from the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

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· Details of arena funding package

With just a week left in this year's Legislative session, proponents breathed a sign of relief that the bill, Senate Bill 5986 is finally moving. But vote openned the stage for lawmakers' first unrestrained public condemnation of the plan.

"This is so insane," said Sen. Rodney Tom, D-Medina. "I can not see how we in the Legislature can subsidize Ray Allen for $16 million a year when we cannot pay a starting wage starting wage for a teacher of $34,000…we talk about state of the art facilities but when it comes to education, we have 2,000 portables in this state. We have schools where you can't drink the water."

The Sonics' new, Oklahoma City-based ownership has said that the team's current KeyArena home is inadequate and that they may move the team out of state if they don't get a new facility.

The proposal being considered in Olympia would allow King County to raise up to $300 million for the new arena had been slightly modified in hopes of building support for the measure in the House.

The new proposal would only use local taxes for the $500 million stadium, the County could also use sales tax credits worth $227 million could be used for the arts and sports facilities such as youth ball fields or paying off KeyArena.

The proposal leaves many decisions such as putting the plan before voters, or the nature of the lease agreement to King County to decide. It essentially just authorizes the county to extend the taxes that were levied for the other pro-sports stadiums.

Ways and Means Chairwoman Margarita Prentice, D-Renton, said those who criticized the plan because it does not provide assurances that the team will not pull up stakes ten years from now are underestimating the strength of the region.

"Why would anybody leave here and go to Oklahoma City? Have you ever been to Oklahoma City? I have," Prentice said.

Prentice is now asking for a meeting with the governor and the caucus leaders from the House and the Senate in hopes of bringing the legislation to a floor vote in the Senate.

Senate leaders have expressed concerns about calling for a vote that could be viewed as damaging for some members, only to see the bill languish in the House.

Since House Speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle, does not support the bill, he could stop any further progress with the Legislation by holding the bill down on his side.