Maryland's budget dilemma, VA governor's vetoes, and the D.C. AG threatens Monumental Sports

The Politics Hour with Kojo Nnamdi

On Friday’s Politics Hour, resident analyst Tom Sherwood broke news that D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb sent a letter earlier in the week to Monumental Sports saying that Wizards and Capitals are legally bound to the District until 2047.

In a since publicly-released letter, the District’s Attorney General accused Monumental Sports and owner Ted Leonsis of breaking promises laid out in a lease extension for Capital One Arena when they announced a deal to move to Alexandria in December.

The teams are legally obligated, according to Schwalb, to remain playing at Capital One Arena until 2047.

“To be clear, the District very much prefers not to pursue any potential claims against MSE,” Schwalb wrote in the letter. “It remains committed to maintaining and growing its partnership with MSE and to keeping the Wizards and Capitals at the Arena until the end of the existing lease term in 2047, if not beyond.”

When asked about the letter, Monumental Sports declined to provide any new comments to WAMU.

Also on the Politics Hour, Virginia Delegate Paul Krizek (D-Fairfax County) criticized Governor Glenn Youngkin for how he’s handled Senate Democrats blocking the deal to build a new arena in Alexandria.

He also talked about a bill that could bring slots-like gaming machines to convenience stores, laundromats, and restaurants across the state and is hope that legislation that would finally create a retail marijuana market isn’t up in smoke.

Additionally, Maryland State Senator Will Smith (D-Montgomery County) joined Kojo and Tom to talk about crossover day in his state’s General Assembly.

He said the biggest challenge for legislators is balancing the state’s budget. The House is proposing a $1.2 billion dollar package that would increase taxes, tolls, and fees. The Senate, instead, wants to pull from the state’s rainy day fund and not raise taxes.

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