A’S BASEBALL DEAL PROVES REPUBLICAN POLICIES ARE A HOME-RUN

April 20, 2023

Rob Lauer Political Reporter 

Democrats hate tax credits by their nature. Democrats represent government employee unions at their core. Tax breaks of any kind go against Dem’s DNA. But yesterday’s announcement that the A’s are moving out of the hell hole known as Oakland to the bright lights of Las Vegas would never have happened without economic incentives. The fact is, every state can and does offer tax breaks to companies that move there. Competition is a good thing.

I was there in Carson City in 2016, when then Republican Gov. Sandoval triggered a special session to approve a special hotel tax and other tax incentives to fund the $750 million public contribution for the Oakland Raiders to build their new stadium and move to Las Vegas. Republicans held the majority in both the state Senate and Assembly back then. And it passed by a wide margin. It was even supported by the only Libertarian assemblyman to ever hold office. It was supported by the most conservative Republicans in the state house. It was funded by adding a few cents to every hotel room rented on the strip. No new taxes from residents. Yet many local libertarian leaning Republicans blasted the deal for years.

The Raiders deal went on to be a HUGE success, not so much on the field as off. 65,000 season ticket licenses ranging from $500 to $75,000 each sold out within weeks back in October 2019. That alone raised over $2 billion. The venue holds sellout concerts regularly and now houses UNLV football games.

On September 12, 2016, I wrote this:

“I support the stadium because we need major projects like this to grow our economy. Building major economic projects like roads, bridges, and infrastructure is the role of government in our economy. We have watched other major cities around the U.S. build stadiums that have gone on to become a major economic engine in their communities. That being said, I am concerned about the state’s liability in this deal. I would like to see UNLV kick in a chunk of the $750 million to offset the taxpayer’s risk. Being right on the strip, concerts and other non NFL events will provide additional revenues. And perhaps the stadium might draw a Major League Baseball team and even a Pro Soccer team as well.”

The Las Vegas Lights FC  professional soccer team is now based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team made its debut in 2018 and plays its home games at Cashman Field.

The other obvious reason the Oakland A’s chose Vegas was the success of the Raiders move and the instant tax savings Nevada offers with no income taxes. California’s highest tax rate is currently 12.3%, and income over $1 million is subject to an additional 1% tax surcharge for 13.3%. Ouch. Our housing costs are less than half, our labor costs are far less, and we still allow independent contractors in Nevada. Cali is going full communist, now wanting to charge energy users based on income, not usage. Homelessness and crime are out of control in Oakland. Certainly we are quickly sliding down that path, but having the prior sheriff of the largest county in the state as the new Republican Governor sends the right message to companies considering moving to Nevada about taking law and order seriously. Let’s face it, the A’s are just another California company fleeing the state’s progressive takeover.

Republicans built America. We believe in the government building huge projects that create wealth for our country. Republican President Lincoln built the transcontinental railroad and the wire service with it. Republican President Teddy Roosevelt built the Panama Canal (Dem Jimmy Carter gave it to the Panamanian government), and Republican President Eisenhower built the interstate highway system. All of these projects helped to shape America into an economic superpower.

Money attracts money. Every exciting new project Las Vegas attracts just attracts more exciting new projects. And soon Las Vegas will have one more exciting project to look forward to this summer one that will completely reshape our image and our imagination.

With an average of 81 home games per regular season, the A’s will be a winner for Las Vegas. I fly back to LA every year to attend Dodgers games. So, I, for one, am personally looking for an indoor Major League Baseball team here in Las Vegas.