[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 23621]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL CONTRACTION

  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, we have another potential 
economic devastation in the State of Florida. Lo and behold, major 
league baseball has voted to eliminate two teams. The media reports 
suggest that four teams are on the short list of those that might be 
dissolved. Lo and behold, two of the four are from Florida--the Florida 
Marlins and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays--and the other two that are on the 
list of four are the Montreal Expos and the Minnesota Twins. If any of 
the four teams currently under consideration for elimination are 
dissolved--any of those four--the impact to Florida would be 
significant. Doing so, especially without input from the communities 
and the regions where the teams are based, would be a mistake.
  Baseball made promises to communities in my State that were relied 
upon by individuals who then built businesses and other assets around 
the teams. Both Miami and Tampa Bay have invested millions of dollars 
and years of sweat equity in their teams. Hotels, restaurants, 
concession vendors, and other hospitality companies, already reeling 
from the September 11 tragedy, stand to take staggering losses if 
baseball fails to honor its obligations. Yet the league has completely 
shut them out of the process, keeping everyone in the dark. The owners 
got together and made these decisions. They didn't reach out to the 
communities and get their input.
  Take, for example, eliminating the Minnesota Twins, which I suspect 
would have a great deal of interest to our Senators from the State of 
Minnesota, and the Montreal Expos, that would have considerable 
interest to the Senators who border that area. Let me tell you, that 
would be very troubling for Florida as well because both these teams 
have a significant minor league presence, and they have wonderful 
spring training facilities in the State of Florida. Their dissolution 
would have a direct negative impact on Lee County, which is Fort Myers 
and Palm Beach County, the city of West Palm Beach where the teams 
train and play. Many individuals and small businesses in these areas 
depend on the teams for their livelihood and would be irreparably 
harmed if the teams folded.
  Florida's attorney general, my good friend, Bob Butterworth, 
explained the problem best when he said ``the people of Florida are 
entitled to some straight answers about the future of major league 
baseball in this State.'' That is why I strongly support Attorney 
General Butterworth's decision to send investigative subpoenas to major 
league baseball. The people of Florida deserve to know what was said 
behind closed doors. I applaud the attorney general for taking action 
so we can get to the bottom of this problem and take whatever 
additional steps are necessary, including legal action to keep baseball 
in Florida for many years to come.
  It is my understanding we are soon going to have a hearing in the 
Commerce Committee, on which I have the great privilege to sit as a 
member, on this particular subject. To be forewarned is to be 
forearmed. We want some answers in that committee hearing. The league 
has an obligation to live up to its promises to the people of Florida, 
and I intend to work ceaselessly to ensure they do.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alaska.
  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, Senator Craig is here seeking 
recognition on the pending package that is before us. I yield whatever 
time he might need for that purpose.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Idaho.

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