In light of recent protests, a Missouri legislator is calling for a review of all taxpayer funds used in the construction and maintenance of stadiums and facilities for the National Football League. Since 1991, Missouri taxpayers have spent more than $150 million on facilities for Missouri NFL teams.
“The NFL is big business. Previous governors and legislators in Missouri have invested millions of taxpayer dollars into NFL facilities for economic development and entertainment purposes. Recent protests are impacting viewership, hurting the fan base of the NFL, and putting at risk all of our public investments. NFL stadiums have been a major investment of taxpayer money and the league must remain popular to continue to have a positive impact on our local and state economy,” said Missouri Representative Nate Walker.
“The First Amendment protects players’ rights to protest off the field. But when Missouri first conceived the idea of publicly funding these stadiums, nobody thought the league would put political protest ahead of good business and civic responsibility. Taxpayers invested in a football arena that has now become a political arena. The NFL could have stopped these protests but chose to indulge its billionaire franchise owners and millionaire players to use public facilities to launch their political agendas. Where will it stop, what will be their next agenda item, and what will it cost taxpayers? This must end,” said Representative Walker.
Representative Walker will ask the legislature to form a joint committee to review all NFL stadium funding and determine what options are available to protect Missouri taxpayers; including modifying existing agreements and contracts, suing the NFL, or banning future taxpayer funding of stadiums.
“If the NFL controversy continues, it will hurt our state and local economies. As legislators, we have a duty to the people of Missouri to ensure every dime of taxpayer money is used responsibly. It doesn’t matter what the protest is about or how important it is - unless the NFL changes, we cannot continue to support this enterprise with public funds,” said Representative Walker.
Representative Walker will also call on national organizations such as the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) to share information and develop strategies for legislators in every state with publicly financed NFL stadiums. “I am sure many states have the same concerns and would benefit by a coordinated effort to challenge the NFL to protect the taxpayers’ interest,” said Representative Walker.
Missouri publicly financed the St. Louis Rams stadium in 1991 for $132.9 million dollars in bonds. As of July 1, 2017 the state still owes $43.3 million on the stadium even though it is vacant after the Rams departed for Los Angeles in 2016. Additionally, Missouri gave the Kansas City Chiefs $25 million in tax credits to move their training facility to Missouri and pays $3 million annually for the Jackson County Convention Authority which operates facilities for the Chiefs.
“We have invested a lot of money in the NFL in Missouri and our taxpayers clearly aren’t getting a good return on their investment,” added Representative Walker.
“The NFL is big business. Previous governors and legislators in Missouri have invested millions of taxpayer dollars into NFL facilities for economic development and entertainment purposes. Recent protests are impacting viewership, hurting the fan base of the NFL, and putting at risk all of our public investments. NFL stadiums have been a major investment of taxpayer money and the league must remain popular to continue to have a positive impact on our local and state economy,” said Missouri Representative Nate Walker.
“The First Amendment protects players’ rights to protest off the field. But when Missouri first conceived the idea of publicly funding these stadiums, nobody thought the league would put political protest ahead of good business and civic responsibility. Taxpayers invested in a football arena that has now become a political arena. The NFL could have stopped these protests but chose to indulge its billionaire franchise owners and millionaire players to use public facilities to launch their political agendas. Where will it stop, what will be their next agenda item, and what will it cost taxpayers? This must end,” said Representative Walker.
Representative Walker will ask the legislature to form a joint committee to review all NFL stadium funding and determine what options are available to protect Missouri taxpayers; including modifying existing agreements and contracts, suing the NFL, or banning future taxpayer funding of stadiums.
“If the NFL controversy continues, it will hurt our state and local economies. As legislators, we have a duty to the people of Missouri to ensure every dime of taxpayer money is used responsibly. It doesn’t matter what the protest is about or how important it is - unless the NFL changes, we cannot continue to support this enterprise with public funds,” said Representative Walker.
Representative Walker will also call on national organizations such as the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) to share information and develop strategies for legislators in every state with publicly financed NFL stadiums. “I am sure many states have the same concerns and would benefit by a coordinated effort to challenge the NFL to protect the taxpayers’ interest,” said Representative Walker.
Missouri publicly financed the St. Louis Rams stadium in 1991 for $132.9 million dollars in bonds. As of July 1, 2017 the state still owes $43.3 million on the stadium even though it is vacant after the Rams departed for Los Angeles in 2016. Additionally, Missouri gave the Kansas City Chiefs $25 million in tax credits to move their training facility to Missouri and pays $3 million annually for the Jackson County Convention Authority which operates facilities for the Chiefs.
“We have invested a lot of money in the NFL in Missouri and our taxpayers clearly aren’t getting a good return on their investment,” added Representative Walker.
7 comments:
Now who's playing politics? This is what it takes to get politicians to realize taxpayer funding of private enterprise is a bad idea? It's been a dubious idea all along. He wouldn't have brought this up except for the protests.
You want to put the screws to the Chiefs. Go ahead. There are plenty of other cities and states that would be delighted to have them.
Our tax money should never fund these leagues. If they want a stadium let them use the salary of the overpaid players to build it.
No one cares about these leagues anymore.
A bunch of egotistical ungrates who show no respect for our flag or our country.
Let them go to a different country and flaunt their attitude.
5:51, the Chiefs are averaging 74,779 fans per game, 97.9% of seats sold. So no one cares about these leagues anymore? Have something to back that up?
Do you feel the government should muscle private business (free enterprise) to make its employees behave a certain way?
Should everyone, athletes and fans, to be forced to stand for the National Anthem whether they want to or not? If that's how you think, maybe you'd be happier flaunting your attitude in North Korea.
National should be removed from NFL name.Call it something like Freedom League as it spews cherished virtues of freedom,alas,freedoms only given them by the blood of so many...overpaid entertainers in sports and Hollywood don't get my time or money.Hope more people boycott these thankless rich folks...
Obviously, none of your family members have fought and died for this country. The flag represents those who fight for our freedom and shoud be respected. Yes, they also fought for tge freedom of those to choose as they wish. However, there are many forms of protest that do not show disredpect for our country or servicemen and women.
So, show some respect.
Those who don't love our coubtry and our flag and what it represents should go live in another country.
We can live without football. We won't survive without true American Patriots, they are the ones who sign up to fight for our continued freedom.
You are aware, aren't you, that some veterans have defended the protests? Should they, then, be told to leave for another country after they have fought for our freedoms?
I wore the uniform once, I would not wear it again. This country is not worth fighting for anymore.
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