Seventh-Inning Stretch · Stadium Wars
Public Money, Private Team
CLEAN v. State (Citizens for Leaders with Ethics & Accountability Now v. State) (1996)
Charge: Unconstitutional gift of public funds - tax money for a ballpark leased to a private team (challenge to the State's stadium law)Court: Supreme Court of WashingtonDocket: Stadium Wars
Is using public tax money for a ballpark leased to a private team a valid public purpose?
The facts
In 1995 a state legislature passed a law using tax revenue to build a publicly owned ballpark that would be leased to the local big-league club. The law was labeled an emergency measure, which kept it from going to a referendum. A citizens' group sued, calling it an unconstitutional gift of public money to a private team and an improper dodge of the voters.
You have the facts the court had. Guilty or not guilty? Call it in the game with your friends, then see what the court actually decided. Wrong call, you drink.
Citation: CLEAN v. State (Citizens for Leaders with Ethics & Accountability Now v. State), 130 Wn.2d 782, 928 P.2d 1054 (1996)
Read more at studicata.com. The source reveals the outcome.