Kinder Rumor Mill: Every Dollar Counts

Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder is putting quite the spin on the recently-renegotiated deal between the state and the Kansas City Chiefs. “They were alleging that the deal we negotiated was flawed, but then they end up with the same deal we had,” he told The Star yesterday. 

Yet as Kinder knows very well, the deal he negotiated with the Chiefs -- one his own MDFB lawyer said was inconsistent with what the MDFB approved -- is not "the same deal" announced yesterday.

Most notably, Kinder's deal gave the Chiefs their $25 million tax break while only guaranteeing five years of benefits. The revised deal, which is now consistent with the team's explicit public promises to taxpayers and to the MDFB, makes sure Missouri taxpayers get their full ten years of economic benefits from a team training camp. The new deal also includes penalties for the team if they don't meet their commitments.

Perhaps Kinder should stop worrying about rumors and third-hand reports of people trying to embarrass him, and stop doing embarrassing things.