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Baseball bill slides through state House Bid to draw major-league club strikes out with Rogue Valley legislators SALEM - The push for major-league baseball moved out of the on-deck circle Friday as the Oregon House approved a bill that would use state funds to help pay for a stadium. Three of Southern Oregon's four representatives - Alan Bates, Susan Morgan and Rob Patridge - voted against the bill. Rep. Cherryl Walker was out of the state. "The bottom line here is the question, 'Is this good for all of Oregon?' " said Bates, a Democrat from Eagle Point. "The bill offers vague promises and I can't vote 'yes' on something like that." But with teams such as the Montreal Expos, Oakland Athletics and Tampa Bay Devil Rays struggling to attract fans, Oregon baseball supporters want to have stadium plans in place if a franchise is ready to move. Proponents say major league baseball could bring as much as $500 million to Oregon over 25 years. The bill, which passed 31-27, proposes to use $150 million in lottery bonds to help build the stadium. It is expected to be amended in the Senate. The revision would reduce the reliance on lottery bonds and replace it with money generated by the income tax on major-league players. For the lottery money to become available, a major league franchise must agree to relocate to Oregon, and an owner willing to fund the remainder of the stadium's construction costs must come forward. Opponents, perhaps wary of the trouble in several major league cities, said the plan has problems. "It would be foolhardy to vote on a project where the details are so sketchy," said Rep. Charlie Ringo, D-Beaverton. "The economic benefits simply do not pan out." Moreover, legislators from Southern Oregon said the bill offers few benefits to rural parts of the state. "I'm resistant to spend that money other than where it's needed," said Morgan, a Republican from Myrtle Creek. The baseball proposal diverts money away from much-needed infrastructure projects in rural Oregon, Morgan and others said. Patridge, R-Medford, expressed similar concerns Thursday when he pulled his name from the bill. Patridge originally supported the baseball proposal. Supporters, however, say the stadium would enhance Oregon's economy and bring jobs to the area, from construction workers to permanent stadium employees. Opponents remained skeptical. "If it really is such a guaranteed money-maker, it's kind of mystifying why the private sector won't step up to the bat," Morgan said. From the House, the bill now moves to the Senate. Sens. Lenn Hannon of Ashland and Jason Atkinson of Jacksonville are not expected to vote for the bill. However, if it passes the Senate, the bill likely would be forwarded to the Senate Ways and Means Committee. Hannon, Ways and Means co-chairman, has said he would strike down the bill if it comes before the committee. He could not be reached for comment Friday. A spokeswoman for Atkinson said the senator no longer supports the proposal. His name, however, is still attached to the bill. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.