Jindal wants to tap surplus to pay Saints

• By MICHELLE MILLHOLLON
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Apr 30, 2009 - Page: 1A

• Print
• Email
• Save
• Reprints
• Twitter
• Share

• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Facebook
• Reddit
• 

The Jindal administration wants to use $85 million of a state surplus as well as pay up to $6 million a year to keep the Saints football team in Louisiana, lawmakers said Wednesday.

The deal, described by legislators briefed on the offer, would require the state to pay far less than the $23.5 million the team is receiving in annual cash inducements.

“It’s definitely a move to eliminate those big payments,” said state Rep. Walt Leger III, D-New Orleans.

Leger said the $85 million would be used for infrastructure improvements.

Gov. Bobby Jindal and Saints owner Tom Benson are scheduled to hold a news conference today at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.

Several lawmakers were critical of the proposal, which coincides with a budget crunch threatening health care and higher education with substantial reductions.

They said Benson should not be benefiting at a time in which state services are suffering.

“Again, behind closed doors, we’re supplementing a multimillionaire. When do we stop the madness and worry about education and health care?” asked state Rep. Karen St. Germain, D-Pierre Part, and chairwoman of the House Democratic Caucus.

State Rep. Juan LaFonta, D-New Orleans, said the proposal is better than the existing agreement but still uses taxpayer dollars.

He said football players are being valued above those trying to learn to read.

“They’re robbing the poor and giving to the rich,” LaFonta said.

Jindal refused to comment Wednesday on what his administration is offering the NFL franchise for a long-term commitment to stay in the Superdome.

“We’re not going to speculate on any agreement until we have an agreement,” Jindal said.