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By Roger Chesley The Virginian-Pilot June 9, 2012 I hate being blackmailed. The state of Virginia should, too. Yep, blackmail is exactly what the Washington Redskins did to thecommonwealth. It's why Gov. Bob McDonnell forked over $4 million intaxpayer money to the National Football League team and its wealthyowner, Dan Snyder. As if Snyder would've gone broke without the state's munificence.Forbes magazine says his net worth is $1.1 billion, placing himamong the world's richest people. McDonnell and officials from Loudoun County and the team announcedthis week that the Redskins wouldn't relocate their headquarters.Redskins Park, which opened in 1992, will remain in Loudoun. Also,the team will move its monthlong summer training camp from RedskinsPark to Richmond, beginning next year. Officials in Prince George's County, Md., and the District ofColumbia had tried to lure the Skins to their communities. It'sclear the team and Snyder used that leverage to pry open thecommonwealth's checkbook. The same day the team's incentive package was announced, ExxonMobil announced it would close its Fairfax County campus and moveoperations that employ 2,100 people to Houston. So I understand theguv's reasoning in giving millions to a private entity. Relocating the team would've sacked the state budget. Thefranchise, the governor said, pays $9.8 million annually in stateand local tax revenue. He added that recent data show the teamsupports 1,832 jobs in the state, directly and indirectly. A team spokesman told me 90 people are on the payroll, notincluding the 60 players the Skins carry during the regular season. There's prestige, too, in keeping the Skins based in Virginia. It'sthe only major-league franchise in the state. (The team willcontinue to play its games in cavernous FedEx Field in PrinceGeorge's County.) I know, I know: The team is doing its part by spending big bucks torefurbish its headquarters. It will spend $30 million to upgradeand expand the facilities in Ashburn. But Loudoun County is spending some of its precious dollars, also -$2 million over the next four years. Add up the public money, andthat's $6 million. It's ironic, really: The governor has questioned whether the stateshould be in the business of funding certain entities, such aspublic broadcasting. He's gutted those expenditures. Earlier this year, McDonnell had proposed cutting $2.5 million toagencies that serve the elderly. After complaints from thoseagencies, McDonnell withdrew his amendment. Yet, he's supported the private film industry. Steven Spielbergpocketed a $4.6 million incentive package to film"Lincoln" in Virginia. The governor defended the gift to the Redskins as a necessary useof public dollars. A caller to his Richmond radio show this week said it's "notthe role of government to subsidize sports." McDonnell repliedthat had the team left the state, "I'm sure that many citizenswould have been concerned about the fact that we'd then have a $9.8million budget gap." It was the right decision - even though it was coerced. Roger Chesley, 757-446-2329, roger.chesley@pilotonline.com , pilotonline.com/chesley, /RogerChesley. The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as Hot Work Tool Steel Manufacturer , China 1.2738 Steel, and more. For more , please visit Plastic Mold Steel today!
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