Longer version, taken from Tribune Politics Reporter Robert Gehrke's Twitter Feed:
Now up, the bill to give a $33 million state subsidy to help build a convention center/hotel downtown.
Rep Brad Wilson: "We have most of the right ingredients for a very successful convention destination."
Wilson says all across the country, convention space is built with public money. This is no different.
Wilson says it's post-performance, so the developer doesn't get the break until the center is built.
Wilson: "We risk losing many of the large conventions we host now...remain at a significant disadvantage in attracting new conventions."
Wilson says the new bill has a "bounce-back" voucher for visitors to come back, stay in another hotel.
There is a mitigation fund for hoteliers to get money for lost biz resulting from new hotel over next four years.
Doesn't seem to be the same drama this year on the convention/hotel bill as there was last year when it failed by two votes.
Rep. Dixon Pitcher, who owns hotels, says the new convention center/hotel would be a "no-fail hotel," but he likes mitigation fund.
Rep. Arent says she manages a small lodge in Garfield County, and sees increase in business when there's a big convention in SLC.
No tears, no nail-biting this time, as subsidy for convention center/hotel passes easily, 53-21.
And that's it--I liked watching the drama unfold via Twitter, and @RobertGehrke's is the best for legislative politics.
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Loving Salt Lake City. Despite everything, and because of everything.
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