Was working on a longer post on the Panthers when House Speaker Thom Tillis spoke about state money for the Panthers stadium upgrades. From the UPoR:
“We would not be appropriating money to go directly into the stadium up-fit. But I’ve also spoken with the various elected officials at the local level to consider options that they were talking about in terms of local revenue. We will continue those discussions.”
Tillis said he’ll treat the team like any other major employer. He said the Panthers are responsible for 4,400 direct jobs and an estimated 1,500 indirect jobs.
I’ve been in the public policy biz for awhile and I’m not sure I’ve ever felt so intellectually insulted by something a pol said. As an economist, there is no way that the Panthers account for 4,400 net full-time jobs. The Panthers probably employ maybe a couple hundred of people full-time — and that includes players. On top of that, there’s a cast of, yes maybe even thousands, with 40 hour a year jobs. And that is the extent of it. And Thom Tillis knows that. As does anyone with the intelligence of an amoeba. The facts are simple enough: Tillis is going to throw money at crony capitalist Jerry Richardson and by extension a bunch of millionaire players. He just hasn’t figured out yet what sort of taxes and subsidies will be involved. And this doesn’t come as surprise because Tillis has previously said he’d do it. And there’s just no sugar-coating it, as much as Tillis may try.
