Senate committee approves Sonics handout

This is beyond ridiculous.

A tax package for the Seattle Sonics' new arena finally passed out of the gate Friday with an oral vote from the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

So when do we get our pony?

The legislation barely squeezed out of committee with 11 votes. Fortunately, not every state Senator is willing to authorize a handout for a handful of billionaire sports owners. Good to see at least one Democrat pointed out this foolishness.

"This is so insane," said Sen. Rodney Tom, D-Medina. "I cannot see how we in the Legislature can subsidize Ray Allen for $16 million a year when we cannot pay a starting wage starting wage for a teacher of $34,000…we talk about state of the art facilities but when it comes to education, we have 2,000 portables in this state. We have schools where you can't drink the water."

Speaker Frank Chopp has said he has no interest in the bill and is unlikely to move it in the House. That could ensure it doesn't even make it out of the state Senate. Let's hope so, because at a time when we have so many needs to take care of (thanks to years of dithering and neglect), this is the last thing we should be spending public money on.