Senate OKs bill to force Astrodome rehab vote

State senator John Whitmire is pushing a bill that would turn the future of the Astrodome over to a public vote in Harris County. The state Senate approved the measure on March 29, 2017, sending it to the House for consideration. less State senator John Whitmire is pushing a bill that would turn the future of the Astrodome over to a public vote in Harris County. The state Senate approved the measure on March 29, 2017, sending it to the House ... more Photo: Dave Rossman, Freelance Photo: Dave Rossman, Freelance Image 1 of / 111 Caption Close Senate OKs bill to force Astrodome rehab vote 1 / 111 Back to Gallery

AUSTIN — In a move that could block Harris County's plans to redevelop the Astrodome, the Texas Senate on Wednesday unanimously approved legislation that would require a public vote on using tax funds on the project.

Dubbed the "Eighth Wonder of the World" when it opened in 1965, the domed icon has been vacant for several years. In November 2013, Harris County voters rejected a referendum that that would have authorized up to $217 million in bonds to turn the Astrodome into a giant convention and event center.

Officials at the time said the stadium -- the first indoor and air-conditioned football and baseball arena that became a defining landmark for Houston's can-do spirit -- probably would face demolition as a result.

In recent months, though, local officials have proposed spending $105 million to help redevelop the building, a move that quickly drew opposition from Houston lawmakers who said that move violates the 2013 decision by voters.

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Senate Bill 884 by Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, would require a public vote before Harris County can spend any taxpayer money to improve or redevelop the Astrodome. Most Harris County senators signed on to support the bill.

"Elections are supposed to matter ... and this is an example of how a governing body is trying to ignore an election and go contrary to to a popular vote," Whitmire said.

Sens. Paul Bettencourt and Joan Huffman, both Houston Republicans, said voters should be given the opportunity to determine whether the new project goes forward, because they earlier rejected spending tax money on the restoration.

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"The taxpayers of Harris County would be on the hook for this project, and they should be allowed to have a say in whether they want to pay for it," Huffman said.

Added Whitmire: "After the voters have said no, you don't go back with your special interests and spend tax money on the Astrodome anyway."

Harris County Judge Ed Emmett said that if the bill is enacted, he is confident voters would support the county's project. He also said the requirement of a vote could delay the project, which means the county could lose out on potential revenue from a renovated Astrodome.

"Clearly, I'm disappointed that no senator was willing to stand up to what is obviously a bad bill," Emmett said. "No bill like this has ever been passed in the State of Texas, nobody can even argue about that."

Precinct 3 Commissioner Steve Radack said the state spends millions of dollars on construction without voter approval.

"I have no problem with the people having the right to vote," Radack said. "My point is this, if the state wants to begin this type of process, apply it to themselves."

After brief debate, the bill was approved 31-0. It now goes to the House for consideration.

>>>Scroll through the gallery above to see what ideas have been floated for the Astrodome in recent years