Kernan switches gears, will help Colts finance new stadium

            By Howie Baker, THG Sports

Despite the state’s severe budget crisis, Indiana governor Joe Kernan announced this week that if he wins the November election against Republican Mitch Daniels, he will push legislation that would raise Hoosiers’ taxes in order to keep the Colts in Indianapolis.

The Colts are one of the NFL’s least profitable teams, and the RCA Dome is to blame, says team owner Jim Irsay.  “The stadium is an embarrassment.”

What irks Irsay even more is that he has put together one of the NFL’s best teams and still gets no support from the state.  “I have said it a thousand times.  We go to the AFC Championship game and can’t get a stadium, while the Cardinals haven’t had a winning season since Dan Dierdorff played for them and they are getting a state-of-the-art facility.  If things do not change in a hurry, we are out of here in 2007.” 

Kernan previously refused to take a stand one way or another concerning building the Colts a new stadium.  Many critics of the governor believe his announcement is a last ditch effort to move ahead of opponent Mitch Daniels in the polls. 

According to a recent THG survey, Daniels would beat Kernan with 82% of the vote if the election were held today. 

The estimated cost of a new retractable-roofed stadium in downtown Indianapolis is approximately $700 million.  Under the governor’s plan, the state would pick up most of the tab. 

“People here love the Colts, and do not want to see them leave.  Deficit be damned!  I am going to give our citizens what they want.  Have no fear, I will find a way to get it done.”

When told of Kernan’s plan, Daniels shook his head in disbelief.  “That’s a Democrat for you; tax and spend then tax and spend some more--with little regard for the consequences.”

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