State Senate expected to vote today on PawSox ballpark

PROVIDENCE – For the Rhode Island Senate, Tuesday’s expected vote on two bills concerning the $83 million Pawtucket Red Sox ballpark proposal, will mark the culmination of a lengthy and drawn-out process.

Months of public testimony, document presentations, and modifications to the legislation by the Senate Finance Committee now boils down to one day where the entire Senate has its say. The Senate is composed of 38 members, though last week’s resignation by Pawtucket’s Jamie Doyle reduces the voting elector- ate by one until a special election is held in early April.

“I plan to support the PawSox legislation, which will keep the team at home in Pawtucket where they belong,” said District 29 (Warwick) Sen. Michael J. McCaffrey in an email to The Times. “The team provides affordable entertainment for families and pays taxes to the state in excess of our contribution under the revised deal. It would be a tragedy if the PawSox left.”

The final hurdle to bring both PawSox ballpark bills to the Senate’s attention was cleared last week when the Senate Finance Committee voted 8-1 in favor of a proposal providing public subsidies to help fund a new Pawtucket-based home for the Triple-A franchise. Over the weekend, Democratic Senate Finance Chairman William Conley Jr. issued a statement that condemned the idea of letting the public vote on the ballpark proposal.

“Resorting to referendum because an important public policy matter is difficult or controversial is a betrayal of the fundamental principles of representative democracy. As elected representatives and leaders, it is our responsibility to study and debate complex public policy questions on behalf of our constituents. It is what we are elected to do. The Senate Finance Committee has spent over 30 hours publicly reviewing all aspects of the PawSox public stadium and economic development legislation in an accessible transparent process conducted throughout the state,” said Conley, who represents Pawtucket and East Providence. “Based on this effort and analysis, the Finance Committee made significant improvements to the legislation to protect state and local taxpayers. Referendums only offer a yes or no option with a single opportunity to vote. The comprehensive and deliberative committee process has created multiple opportunities for public participation and refine- ments to the final product. It is our responsibility as elected officials to vote upon this legislation. Put simply, it is our job, and the Senate is ready to do it.”

Should the bill the pass the Senate, it would then shift to the House of Representatives. Presently, there’s no timetable for the ballpark legislation to be heard before the entire House, though sources tell The Times that it’s possible that the House Finance Committee may take a page out of their Senate brethren and stage multiple hearings before voting.