Another landmark victory for corporate welfare was finalized
a few days ago when the government of Virginia and the NFL’s Washington
Redskins finalized their deal (bribe) for the latter to stay and invest in its
HQ and training facility in Loudoun County[1].
In related news, Richmond’s mayor, Dwight Jones, convened a
commission[2]
to assist in locating a suitable site for the Redskins’ 2013 training camp in
Richmond[3].
As the mayor of Richmond, Jones understands the difficulties associated with
finding anything suitable in Richmond! The city has not however finalized its
agreement with the Redskins yet.
The “deal” between Virginia and the Redskins does admittedly
look pretty sweet on paper.
In order for the Redskins to receive the $4 million grant,
the team must meet a number of “targets” outlined in the so-called “Project
Hail” agreement.
Some of the targets include making cumulative capital
investments at the Redskins HQ or its training facility at an estimated total
of “up to $30 million” (why would the agreement cap capital investments?!), and
keeping the Redskins HQ and training facility in the state until 2020.
The Redskins would have to give back a portion or all of its
grant money if one or more of the targets failed to be achieved.
Furthermore, the agreement includes a four-year deal between
the Virginia Lottery and the Redskins, a continuance of the relationship they
have shared for a number of years.
Arguably, the biggest problem with the deal is the grant
itself. When the incentive was announced in June, even Republican lawmakers in
the state asked the McDonnell administration to prove claims that the Redskins
would have left its Loudoun complex without the incentives[4].
To my knowledge, no such evidence has yet been provided.
Furthermore, one gets the sense that the “targets” that have
been set are paper thin and easily side-stepped, if necessary. The ambiguous language
used in the 8-page “Project Hail” agreement (e.g. “commercially reasonable”) is
the kind used by lawmakers to write seemingly substantive legislation without
teeth.
And of course there is the tried and true skepticism that
follows from most legislative moves pulled by the government of Virginia when
it claims to be looking out for the interests of Virginians while paying
millions to groups and businesses that hardly need the extra revenue.
Hail to the Redskins! How about hail to the average
Virginian?!
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