The proponents of building a major league baseball stadium in Portland (which I support) have been doing some maneuvering down in Salem. The old financing bill, HB 3606, has apparently been abandoned, and the new bill is Senate Bill 5.

I think they used the old "gut and stuff" procedure in the House -- odd, but neither sinister nor unusual. They take a bill that's already been passed by the other house, delete its entire contents, insert new contents, and vote on it. If the new version passes the second chamber (here, the House), it then goes back to the original chamber (here, the Senate). At least, I think that's how it goes.

Anyway, the amended Senate Bill 5 has apparently been approved by a committee in the House. Now it has to be passed by both the full House and Senate. The House approved the old baseball bill, and is likely to approve the new. In the Senate? Well, as best I can tell it's war.

The Senate President just labeled that fine legislative body a "disgrace." The governor is threatening to shut down the state unless the legislators grow up. The baseball backers are just hoping that the senators will stop poking each other in the eyes and knocking each others' heads together long enough to say yes to their financing plan.

You can read all about it (and send an e-mail to your state senator!) over at the Oregon Stadium Campaign website.