The Legislature failed to approve a proposal that would have created a sports authority for Pima County to help Tucson retain its Major League Baseball spring training teams.

The measure was approved by the House on June 27, but the Legislature adjourned its five-month session before the proposal could get a vote in the Senate.

The proposal would have paid for efforts to retain teams by levying a tax on rental cars, retail businesses, hotels, restaurants, bars and amusement businesses, including sporting events.

The goal was to improve Tucson's prospects for keeping the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies after the Chicago White Sox announced plans to move its spring training to metropolitan Phoenix. It also would have provided money for youth sports activities.

Democratic Rep. Ed Ableser of Tempe, an opponent of the bill, said government shouldn't provide incentives for Tucson to try to take away spring training business from metro Phoenix. ”This bill is dangerously on the side of interfering with industry and business,'' Ableser said.

Democratic Rep. Steve Farley of Tucson, who voted for the bill, said he had reservations about the bill and noted that the measure will be a hard sell to voters.

”I am not hearing a lot of enthusiasm from the voting public in Pima County,'' Farley said.