Nader, who has formed an organization opposed to public subsidies of sports teams, said the District stadium site will face environmental, legal and other challenges and predicted the project's cost would balloon.
Jim Graham (D-Ward 1), who had expressed serious concerns about the original bill, said yesterday that he was encouraged by the changes, some of which are similar to ideas he has proposed.
Barbara Lang, president of the city's Chamber of Commerce, said many businesses still are concerned about aspects of the gross-receipts tax. Talks among business leaders, the mayor's staff and council members were continuing late yesterday.
"We've been caucusing all day," Lang said. "We will be offering our own plan to the mayor and the council."
Both council committees have five members, and Kevin P. Chavous (D-Ward 7), who is a member of both committees, could be the swing vote. Chavous, who lost his bid for reelection in the September primary, has been largely silent on the stadium plan.
Council aides said that while the markups probably will be more combative than normal, it would be unusual for either committee to block the bill and fail to allow the full council a chance to vote.
The mayor and his aides have expressed confidence that they have lined up the seven council votes needed to approve the stadium plan next week. But the aides were continuing fierce lobbying efforts yesterday.
Staff writer Spencer S. Hsu contributed to this report.
