Nevada lawmakers could have squashed taxpayer-funded A's palace. They blew it.

Nevada legislators didn't just screw over their own constituents and the people of Oakland. They screwed over every person who's realized what a farce it is to throw public money at billionaires so they can build their sports palaces.

For several days, it looked as if lawmakers in Nevada would reject a request for $380 million in public funding for an Athletics stadium in Las Vegas. By doing so, they could finally put an end to the insanity of what is effectively welfare for the champagne and caviar set.

These politicians, it seemed, had wised up to what the public has known for quite some time now, that these projects produce big revenue for the one-percenters who own or control them and not the folks actually footing the bill. They appeared to recognize that funding a wealthy team owner’s vanity project means less money for projects a city and state actually needs, things that will benefit all citizens. Like, say, addressing Nevada ranking 48th out of the 50 states in school funding.

“I just want to get this correct,” Democratic Sen. Rochelle Nguyen said during the debate. “You are asking minimally for the state to give you $36 million per year for the next five years for a taxpayer funded stadium at the same time that the governor has vetoed funding for summer school, a bill to support children’s mental health, a bill requiring paid family leave all because the governor said we couldn’t afford it?”

When you put it like that, the folly is obvious. Or ought to be.

Economists have said for years that new stadiums don’t produce the economic benefits promised when owners are trying to wheedle money from the public. The tax revenues are never as high as predicted, and ditto for the jobs created. If a new stadium or arena produces any tourism boom, it’s temporary – and nowhere close to the return of, say, conventions that are, by their very nature, fueled by out-of-towners.

Oh, the A’s and their toadies were quick to point out that the team is providing more than $1 billion of the funding for the 30,000-seat stadium -- minus whatever the team gets in naming rights. How generous of A’s owner John Fisher, whose parents founded the Gap clothing chain and who, according to Forbes, has a net worth of $2.2 billion. They also said the team will repay half of the $180 million in transferrable tax credits it’s getting.

But that still leaves taxpayers on the hook for almost $100 million in those tax credits. And the $120 million in bonds is something of a shell game. If the area around the new ballpark doesn’t generate enough to cover the payments and interest and other fragile backstops fail, it's taxpayers who will have to make up the difference.

“We’re using taxpayer dollars to subsidize a private business,” Republican Sen. Ira Hansen said.

Politicians just can’t help themselves, though. They hear an owner’s threat to leave for greener pastures, or hope they can lure the turncoat team, and they trip over themselves to write out a big check.

They think they’re making some grand civic gesture when, in reality, all they’re doing is lining the already fat pockets of a billionaire. They think their city will be different, that despite the dozens of examples of stadiums bringing little added financial value to a community, theirs will be the one to defy fundamental economic principles.

“I assure every Nevadan, even those of you who have concerns about this bill — I assure you that if you see where the bill started and where it is now, that there’s not a single Nevadan that won’t say this bill was much better,” Democratic Sen. Edgar Flores said.

That makes it all OK then!

Had Nevada lawmakers voted no, it would have sent a powerful message to every other team owner who thinks he deserves to get something for nothing: You want it, you pay for it. All of it. It would have given pause to the owners of the Milwaukee Brewers, Kansas City Royals, Washington Commanders, Denver Broncos and I’m sure several other franchises considering big-ticket construction projects, and maybe shamed them into pulling out their own wallets.

At the very least, it would have forced those owners to consider other funding sources that don’t include the taxpayers.

Instead, Nevada's legislators rolled over. All that anger and outrage was just for show, so they could tell their constituents they’d put up a fight. They put the wants of a billionaire before the needs of Nevada, and taxpayers everywhere will pay the price.

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on Twitter @nrarmour.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: A's will get stadium money from Nevada, taxpayers will get screwed