Legislative Leaders Ponder SuperSonics Tax Package

From The Associated Press ~ While the Legislature in Washington has put off until next year a proposal to fund renovations to the Seattle SuperSonics' arena, lawmakers in Oklahoma are working on a tax incentive package to lure the NBA franchise.

Senate Co-President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, said he has agreed to be the author of a bill that would provide incentives only if the SuperSonics relocated.

"I don't have the language yet, but we're working on it," Coffee said. "In general, there are some costs to relocating the Sonics to Oklahoma City."

Coffee said the incentive would likely resemble the state's Quality Jobs Act, which gives rebates to companies for creating jobs, and the cost would be recovered when the SuperSonics and their opponents pay income taxes for games played in Oklahoma.

Democratic Senate leader Mike Morgan of Stillwater and House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, have also been involved in discussions with Coffee. The lawmakers said the SuperSonics approached them about enacting the tax breaks.

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