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Poll: Overwhelming number oppose tax support for Saints


By The Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS -- Nearly three out of every four Louisiana voters oppose giving tax dollars to keep the NFL's Saints in New Orleans, according to a poll compiled for a state lawmaker.
Gov. Kathleen Blanco has been attempting to get Saints owner Tom Benson to renegotiate a deal giving the team $186 million over 10 years, saying the state cannot afford it. The contract was negotiated by then-Gov. Mike Foster and approved by the Legislature.

Benson recently canceled additional negotiations until after the 2005 season when the Saints have their first opportunity to negate the current deal and move by repaying the $81 million the team received during the first five years of the contract. The state can opt out of the deal after the 2007 season.

Pollster Verne Kennedy's Florida-based Market Research Insight conducted the statewide telephone poll of 350 voters April 22-25 for Sen. James David Cain, R-Dry Creek. The poll asked: "Do you favor or oppose the use of tax dollars to keep the New Orleans Saints in Louisiana?"

Of those who responded, 62 percent were strongly opposed to using tax dollars, 7 percent were somewhat opposed, 8 percent were undecided, 9 percent were somewhat in favor and 14 percent strongly were in favor.

When the undecided voters were taken out, 67 percent strongly opposed using tax dollars to keep the team, 8 percent were somewhat opposed, 10 percent were somewhat in favor and 15 percent were strongly in favor.

The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points, Market Research Insight said.

In a statement, Cain said he was "only the messenger," but added: "It's just not right for us to give corporate welfare to one business, just because it is a football team, while we are taxing other businesses so much they are leaving the state."

"Clearly, Louisiana's image is enhanced if the Saints stay in Louisiana, but the voters are opposed to having any more state tax dollars spent on a football team," Cain said.

The Saints did not respond immediately to a call for comment on the poll. The Blanco administration did not immediately comment.

Benson called off negotiations after reviewing a state proposal focused on a $174 million renovation of the Louisiana Superdome with the Saints contributing $40 million. The Blanco administration said that deal would increase the team's ability to make money, but also reduce the amount of guaranteed income from the state after the renovation is complete.

The state proposal includes $267 million in guaranteed money for the team, $134 million toward the stadium renovation and an estimated $336 million in additional revenue the Saints could earn after the renovation is complete.

Last week, Stanley Rosenberg, Benson's attorney and a member of the team's board of directors, said Benson was interested in moving the team, perhaps to his second home in San Antonio. Rosenberg also said the Saints had discussed the possibility of moving to Albuquerque, N.M., and that Benson had received several offers to sell the team, including one for more than $1 billion.

State officials said they considered the report a bargaining ploy by the Saints.

On Monday, the Senate Finance Committee voted 7-2 to kill a bill that would bar giving the Saints any more state money to stay in Louisiana.

Sen. Rob Marionneaux, D-Livonia, and the bill's sponsor, said the money would be better spent elsewhere on health care and other state needs. But other lawmakers said that the bill would break the existing contract, costing the state millions of dollars in penalties and could reflect badly on the state when it tries to enter into other economic development deals.