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A Louisiana lawmaker wants to cut state funding to the NFL's Saints over anthem protests
Circa ^

Posted on 09/25/2017 8:39:34 AM PDT by TigerClaws

Louisiana State Rep. Kenny Havard expressed his desire to cut millions in state tax dollars, exemptions and credits allocated to the New Orleans Saints, the NFL and associated groups, the Advocate reported.

His Monday announcement came one day after a group of Saints players protested the national anthem before their Sunday game against the Panthers.

"The very reason (the Saints) have the privilege and opportunity to play professional football while being paid millions is because someone in uniform died protecting their right to do so. It is a disgrace to the men and women of this nation and state who have sacrificed so much."

Rep. Kenny Havard

Havard (R-St. Francisville) didn't specify the amount of state money that would be taken away from the Saints. But if his announcement were to follow through, it would affect team members, coaches and owners. According to a 2015 Forbes report, Saints owner Tom Benson -- who also owns the NBA's New Orleans Pelicans -- was "set to rake in an estimated $392 million from state subsidies through 2025." Can you tell the real news from the fake news? Take the quiz!

The same report also said that, during the Mercedes-Benz Superdome lease, "the state will pay Benson at least $198 million in increased revenue from the Superdome, $142 million in rental payments on property Benson owns, $10 million in bonuses for bringing the Super Bowl to New Orleans and $2.6 million in tax breaks. Benson will get another $40 million from private rent payments to a tower he bought as part of the deal."

"Disrespecting our national anthem and flag in the name of social injustice is the highest form of hypocrisy. Our free society made possible by our fighting men and women has made available free education, free lunch, housing and free healthcare and is now be considered socially unjust," Havard said. "It is time the taxpayers quit subsidizing protest on big boy playgrounds. I believe in the right to protest but, not at a taxpayer subsidized sporting event. Do it on your own time. There are plenty of disabled children, elderly and veterans in this state that would appreciate the money."

More than 200 National Football League players protested on Sunday following President Trump's comments and tweets suggesting that players who protest the anthem should be fired.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Louisiana
KEYWORDS: nfl; saints; taxpayerfunding
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To: txrefugee
How does this happen?

Many/most times, citizens vote to approve stadium funding because they get frightened into thinking their city will be second-rate without a sports team(s).

21 posted on 09/25/2017 8:58:26 AM PDT by gdani (Everyone is a snowflake these days)
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To: Steely Tom

Another article on NFL corporate welfare:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2016/06/29/richard-sherman-taxpayer-money-stadiums-corporate-welfare-column/86475588/

Taxpayers put up $1.3 BILLION for the new Atlanta stadium.

Don’t give them the handout? The owners threaten to move the team.


22 posted on 09/25/2017 8:58:54 AM PDT by TigerClaws
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To: Buckeye McFrog

I definitely see it that way. These people play a very deep game.

I think Football was supposed to be destroyed by the “concussion thing” — they even got Will Smith to star in a movie about it. But that train was moving too slowly, do the Marxists got this National Anthem thing going as well.

They just want to get rid of anything which makes American culture unique.


23 posted on 09/25/2017 8:59:04 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy (Benedict McCain is the worst traitor ever to wear the uniform of the US military.)
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To: nhwingut

I don’t think that Brees sat, but his statements are those of an idiot:

“I disagree with what the President said and how he said it. I think it’s very unbecoming of the office of the President of the United States to talk like that, to the great people like that, and, obviously, he’s disappointing a lot of people.”

What “great people” is Brees referring to? The greedy, cowardly owners, or the greedy whiny players? These parasites are subsidized by American, State and Local taxpayers and are as subject to criticism as any politician. Trump hit the bullseye and they fools took the bait.


24 posted on 09/25/2017 8:59:12 AM PDT by littleharbour
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To: TigerClaws

Great idea. Do it.


25 posted on 09/25/2017 8:59:45 AM PDT by mulligan
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To: WKUHilltopper
NFL is non-profit

End all non-profit status. There are more than 1.4 million non-profit entities in the USA. Lots of them are anti-conservative that pretend to be non-biased. People will still donate to their churches and charities that they truly believe do good works.

26 posted on 09/25/2017 8:59:54 AM PDT by Freee-dame (Best election ever.)
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To: Steely Tom

But the NFL has been trying to expand globally for a long time, so they have to play down the “Americanism” aspect. That’s what a lot of this crap stems from.


27 posted on 09/25/2017 9:00:06 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: dfwgator

I like your spin.


28 posted on 09/25/2017 9:01:53 AM PDT by gathersnomoss
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To: PGR88

The NFL is a largely publicly funded enterprise.

While I don’t think this will fly, I support the effort. Even without the flag protests, I don’t want the .gov buying football stadiums.


29 posted on 09/25/2017 9:02:39 AM PDT by redgolum
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To: Freee-dame
>>>NFL is non-profit

End all non-profit status

NFL has not been a non-profit for a few years now.

30 posted on 09/25/2017 9:04:21 AM PDT by gdani (Everyone is a snowflake these days)
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To: TigerClaws

“The very reason (the Saints) have the privilege and opportunity to play professional football while being paid millions is because someone in uniform died protecting their right to do so. It is a disgrace to the men and women of this nation and state who have sacrificed so much.”

Hard to argue with that!


31 posted on 09/25/2017 9:04:51 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set!)
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To: TigerClaws

cue the lefty judge who order that a state CAN’T cut funding to the NFL team as it would be unconstitutional.


32 posted on 09/25/2017 9:05:12 AM PDT by The Louiswu (MAGA)
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To: dfwgator
But the NFL has been trying to expand globally for a long time, so they have to play down the “Americanism” aspect. That’s what a lot of this crap stems from.

Hadn't thought of that, but it has the ring of truth.

That's what CNN did. Turned anti-American when they wanted to go international back in the 1990s.

I remember when Tom Clancy's characters would look to CNN as a rock of stability and honest American fact-based journalism. They'd hear about something terrible happening somewhere, and they'd turn to CNN right away.

That was in books he wrote back in the early 1980s. What a different time.

33 posted on 09/25/2017 9:05:36 AM PDT by Steely Tom ([Seth Rich] == [the Democrat's John Dean])
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To: TigerClaws

Yes, does this take state legislation or can the state government just do it?


34 posted on 09/25/2017 9:07:35 AM PDT by Truth29
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To: TigerClaws

These NFL multimillionaire players who are kneelers, sitters, and no shows for the National Anthem are COWARDS - and spitting in the face of America, our military, our veterans, and those wounded and killed in the line of duty to give these morons the FREEDOMS they have today. Our Freedom is NOT FREE. Almost none of these crybaby rich brats ever served our country in the military (the exception is a guy like Villanueva on the Steelers - the only MAN on that team).

Go play football in some third world craphole like those I fought in as a US Army Combat Infantryman.


35 posted on 09/25/2017 9:09:19 AM PDT by Lions Gate
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To: momincombatboots

Now we’re talking action, not just venting.


36 posted on 09/25/2017 9:09:31 AM PDT by Socon-Econ
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To: TigerClaws

I am favor of cutting for taking a knee, I am favor of cutting because they stand, I am in favor of cutting because the pray, I am for of cutting because they do not pray. Under all circumstances I am for cutting funding.


37 posted on 09/25/2017 9:12:29 AM PDT by FreedomNotSafety
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To: VanDeKoik

I agree, and I also think taking away the tax dollars is a good idea.


38 posted on 09/25/2017 9:16:10 AM PDT by Rusty0604
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To: txrefugee

Bread and circuses. Entertainment for the masses is an important state priority. That said, I suspect that dropping the cost of duck stamps and fishing licenses would fill any void left by football.


39 posted on 09/25/2017 9:17:15 AM PDT by InABunkerUnderSF (Dump Flake)
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To: Freee-dame

“End all non-profit status.”

I’m good with that. I don’t call them non-profits. Some of them make profits hand over fist. I call them non-taxables.


40 posted on 09/25/2017 9:17:18 AM PDT by WKUHilltopper (WKU 2016 Boca Raton Bowl Champions)
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