Colts stadium bill passes 62-33; heads to governor

A bill to finance a new Indianapolis Colts stadium also cleared the General Assembly Friday and is headed to Gov. Mitch Daniels for consideration.\nThe bill passed the Senate 46-3 and the House 62-33.\nRepublican Sen. Luke Kenley of Noblesville wore a Colts hat as he urged senators to vote for the bill, which he said would make many communities better places to live.\n"This bill contains a number of efforts to do that," Kenley said.\nGov. Mitch Daniels, a key supporter of the legislation, will likely sign the bill soon.\nPolitical leaders had sparred over control of the stadium construction until last week when Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson, a Democrat, gave in to a demand from Daniels, a Republican, for a state board to oversee the project.\nIndianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson said Friday after the bill cleared both chambers that his work was mostly finished on the stadium project for now.\n"Obviously it's the governor's program now," he said. "He'll take it from here."\nLawmakers from northwest Indiana lauded the economic development proposal included in the bill.\nSen. Earline Rogers, a Gary Democrat, said the package was "historic." Others say it could be the biggest boon to the region since steel mills moved in.\nThe proposal would create the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority to develop a plan for economic development projects and help fund them.\nThe state would chip in between $5 million and $10 million a year for the next two years, using money from Indiana Toll Road reserves. Afterward, the state would continue the funding if it approves the development plan. The state could increase its contribution if it raises fees for the toll road, Daniels said.\nThe cities of East Chicago, Gary and Hammond, along with Lake and Porter counties, would each contribute $3.5 million a year.\nThe proposal also allows Lake and Porter counties to impose a 1 percent food and beverage tax, with the proceeds earmarked for the new development authority.