| | TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Only hours before the first pitch of
the Florida Marlins' season, Gov. Jeb Bush said he'd veto a cruise
tax proposal to help finance a new ballpark, leaving its future in
doubt.
A $4-a-day tax on cruise ship passengers posed too much of a
threat to the industry, which pumps millions into the Miami-area
economy and employs an estimated 6,700 people, Bush said Monday.
Marlins owner John Henry envisioned a $400 million stadium in
downtown Miami with a retractable dome, 38,000 seats and a view of
Biscayne Bay. He hoped to have the park ready for the 2003 season.
The Marlins won the World Series in 1997 but lost $34 million.
Then-owner Wayne Huizenga dismantled his high-priced champion and
Florida tumbled from first to worst. Henry, a multimillionaire
commodities trader, bought the team in January 1999.
A bill in the Florida Senate would create a seven-member
authority independent of the Miami-Dade County Commission to add
the cruise tax if voters approve it in a countywide referendum in
November. The legislation won approval last week from a Senate
committee.
Henry said last month the Marlins don't have a future without a
domed downtown park.
Bush outlined his opposition in a column in Monday's Miami
Herald, saying the plan was "bad public policy."
The governor wrote that he "longs for the glory days of
Marlins' baseball. But recapturing the magic of 1997 at the expense
of our business climate, our residents' livelihood and the
integrity of our democratic process is too great a cost."
Bush told reporters Monday he did not realize his statement
opposing the plan came on the start of the Marlins' 2000 season.
"It had nothing to do, by the way, with Opening Day," said
Bush, clearly chagrined at the timing. He said he planned to talk
by phone with Henry later Monday.
Henry said Monday he wanted to focus on baseball rather than the
stadium issue, but admitted he was shocked by Bush's comments.
"If they don't like my ideas -- you would hope that leadership
means providing ideas," Henry said. "We provided our ideas. If
other leaders have other ideas, I'd be more than happy to listen to
them."
The Florida Ports Council, Florida Caribbean Cruise Association
and Port of Miami Terminal Operating Company and the American
Automobile Association oppose the tax.
The cruise tax has quickly become one of the hottest topics in
the Legislature.
Both sides had lined up lobbyists for the legislative battle.
Henry brought Hall of Famer Tony Perez and former slugger Andre
Dawson to the Capitol last month to meet with lawmakers. | |
 |
