Stadium bills draw backers

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Prominent politicians and businessmen took turns Wednesday touting the economic virtues of state aid for stadium developments in Missouri's two largest cities.

With Senate and House committees each considering bills, supporters shuffled from one room to the other in one of the most concerted pushes for state aid since the St. Louis Cardinals brought ballplayers to the Capitol last year.

Since then, the Cardinals plan for a new stadium has been merged with one to renovate the homes of the Kansas City Royals and Chiefs.

And Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder has combined the two urban projects in legislation that also would build an exposition center in Springfield and a convention center and arena in Branson.

The legislation by Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, incorporates a plan by the mayor of Kansas City to offer new incentives for downtown developments and gives all communities a chance to tap into a new economic development fund.

"It starts with stadiums, and it goes on from there to downtown redevelopment," Kinder told the Senate Pensions and General Laws Committee, "and it goes on to encompass a means by which small towns and rural communities all over the state can be a winner under this bill."

Star witnesses

Kinder's list of star witnesses included former U.S. Sen. John Danforth; the mayors of St. Louis and Kansas City; top administrators from Jackson County and the cities of Branson and Springfield; executives from Drury Industries and Enterprise Rent-A-Car; state and regional business development coordinators; labor leaders; and the Cardinals' principal owner William Dewitt and president Mark Lamping.