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Legislators tell court Nixon is overstepping his power on stadium plan

St. Louis Public Radio | By Marshall Griffin,
Marshall Griffin
Published June 30, 2015 at 4:20 PM CDT
HOK|360 ARCHITECTURE

A circuit judge in Jefferson City is weighing a legal challenge that could affect funding for a new NFL stadium in St. Louis. The lawsuit centers on Gov. Jay Nixon's position that he has the authority to extend the pay-off period for the bonds used to build the Edward Jones Dome, the current home of the St. Louis Rams.

That extension could generate around $350 million in public funds for the proposed new stadium, which would be on the Mississippi riverfront north of the Gateway Arch and Laclede's Landing.

Sen. RobSchaaf, R-St. Joseph, says Nixon does not have that authority.

"It violates the separation of the executive branch's power from the legislative branch's power," Schaaf said.  "The legislature is supposed to decide whether or not to spend the money, and the governor is supposed to execute those wishes."

Credit HOK|360 ARCHITECTURE

Schaaf is the lead plaintiff in the case. The other five are members of the Missouri House: Rob Vescovo, R-Arnold, Jay Barnes, R-Jefferson City, Mark Parkinson, R-St. Charles, Eric Burlison, R-Springfield, and Tracy McCreery, D-Olivette.

Barnes, who's also an attorney, argued their case before Cole County Judge Jon Beetem. The judge had barred the use of TV cameras, audio recorders, cell phones and other electronic recording devises during Tuesday's hearing.

Andy Hirth, deputy general counsel for the state attorney general's office, represents the Nixon administration in the suit.He argued that there is nothing unlawful about the governor's advocacy for a new stadium, and that the plaintiffs should have filed suit in St. Louis, not Cole County.

The hearing lasted about an hour, and Beetem did not issue a ruling after it ended.

The case in Jefferson City is one of three dealing with the stadium. Two in St. Louis concern release of documents and the constitutionality of of a city ordinance that St. Louis voters approved in 2002 requiring a public vote before the city can provide any financial assistance "to the development of a professional sports facility." The suit on the ordinance is being brought by the Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority, which says a public vote is not required to extend the bonds.

Plans for a new NFL stadium in St. Louis flow from the original contract that brought the Rams to St. Louis. That contract had to be in the top 25 of NFL stadiums in 2015. The Edward Jones Dome is not. Urgency seemed to increase after Rams owner Stan Kroenke's announcement plans to build a new stadium near downtown Los Angeles.

The proposed new stadium in St. Louis could cost between $860 million and $985 million.

Follow Marshall Griffin on Twitter:  @MarshallGReport

Copyright 2021 St. Louis Public Radio. To see more, visit St. Louis Public Radio.

Missouri News
Marshall Griffin
Missouri Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a proud alumnus of the University of Mississippi (a.k.a., Ole Miss), and has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off the old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Mason, and their cat, Honey.
See stories by Marshall Griffin
Marshall Griffin
St. Louis Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a native of Mississippi and proud alumnus of Ole Miss (welcome to the SEC, Mizzou!). He has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off an old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Liberty Belle, and their cat, Honey.