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The Big Gameby Eric Johnson on May 11, 2009In a rare display of teamwork, California’s professional sports teams have kicked in to support Proposition 1A, a ballot measure that would extend a hike in the state's sales tax and impose a cap on state spending. The San Jose Sharks, San Francisco Giants, Oakland A’s, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers have each contributed $25,000 to the Prop. 1A campaign, according to a column by Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross in today’s Chron: “We can't remember the last time the usually nonpolitical San Francisco Giants and the Oakland A's were on the same page, let alone the same team—so it really sparked our interest when the California secretary of state's records showed both ballclubs had ponied up $25,000 to help Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger pass Proposition 1A.” The special election to decide the fate of Prop 1A and five other ballot measures, is next Tuesday, May 19. Matier and Ross report that the teams’ move was not entirely without self-interested motives. It appears likely, they write, that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the state legislature were preparing to impose taxes on tickets to sporting events to help bail out the state. "No one pitched it to us that way directly," said one sports executive who asked not to be named. "But we all know they were thinking about taxing us before the measure went on the ballot." The column quotes Lew Wolff, owner of the A’s (as well as the San Jose Earthquakes) giving voice to what may prove to be the ballot measure’s strongest argument: "If both Democrats and Republicans are against [Prop. 1A], it must be a good thing." by Eric Johnson on May 11, 2009 |
 Lew Wolff, owner of the Oakland A's and the San Jose Earthquakes, has chipped in with other team owners in support of Prop. 1A. |
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