GOP lawmaker calls for stripping $400 million from New Orleans Saints to punish players for protests

[DonViejo]

Source: RawStory



DAVID EDWARDS
25 SEP 2017 AT 11:10 ET

Louisiana state Rep. Kenny Havard (R) on Monday called for the state to end tax subsidies for the Saints NFL team because some players have refused to stand for the national anthem.

In a statement on Monday, Havard asserted that taxpayers should not have to “subsidize” the protests.

“The very reason they 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,” he opined. “It’s a disgrace to the men and women of this nation who have sacrificed so much.”

According to Havard, “Disrespecting our national anthem and flag in the name of social justice is the highest form of hypocrisy.”

-snip-

Link to tweet

Read more: https://www.rawstory.com/2017/09/gop-lawmaker-calls-for-stripping-400-million-from-new-orleans-saints-to-punish-players-for-protests/

[samnsara]

1. pretty sure NOLA loves their Saints more than they love Havard.....

[fleur-de-lisa]

14. You would be correct.

And the Saints don't just pull their fan base from New Orleans and Southern Louisiana. Mississippi and parts of eastern Texas too.

[rurallib]

2. Saints ought to threaten to move until this guy shows them some respect

Most cities and states go apoplectic when a team threatens to move. Do it and put it all on this asshole's shoulders.

Lots of cities looking for teams - Saint Louis and San Diego come to mind. And the nickname "Saints" would fit right in in both cities.

[avebury]

7. With a NAACP travel warning for Missouri I would not

want to move there. Missouri has a bad reputation for how they treat black people.

[riversedge]

36. Best response yet.

[silverweb]

3. Why are taxpayers subsidizing football, anyway?

We "can't afford" healthcare, more money for education, infrastructure, etc, but we're giving hundreds of millions to professional sports teams?!?

[iluvtennis]

11. Subsidies in the way of cities/counties paying for stadiums has been prevalent...

...for years. The counties/cities pay them to keep the team. I've always been of the opinion that the billionaire owners and the multi billionaire dollar NFL organization can pay for their own stadiums. But it's all about the $$. The NFL/owners threatened cities with taking away the teams if they don't apoy.

[silverweb]

17. But federal dollars?

While I understand city and county support to a point, seeing how having a major team can increase visitors and stimulate local businesses, the article gives the (mistaken?) impression that it's talking about federal subsidies. I hope not, because that would be really wrong.

[iluvtennis]

20. Don't know if it's federal or local funds...with all of the handoffs..who knows :-(

[Wounded Bear]

21. Not federal, State Rep talking about state subsidies...

Louisiana state Rep. Kenny Havard (R) on Monday called for the state to end tax subsidies for the Saints NFL team because some players have refused to stand for the national anthem.

[silverweb]

22. Good.

I didn't read carefully enough. Thank you!

[Juliusseizure]

26. Supposedly generates local business

But I haven't seen any studies on it

[PatSeg]

29. From things I've read in the past

it would seem that it is the sports teams that the subsidies benefit, far more than local businesses.

[ProfessorGAC]

49. You're Correct

Those studies have been done. I'll try to find one.

But, the easiest way to distill this is something a comic said (i think, but don't remember who):
If stadiums actually made money, the owners would build their own.

[PatSeg]

55. I remember an issue about building a stadium

when I lived in Sacramento and all evidence indicated it benefited the owners, not local businesses.

That comic sounds familiar, certainly rings true. These major sports teams are making a fortune, yet demand tax payer subsidies. If they don't get what they want, they threaten to move to another city.

[silverweb]

50. Nor have I.

However, I used to live in San Diego and have seen how a new stadium or arena can go either way. ​

Qualcomm Stadium, built for the Chargers some years ago, was a boondoggle because of terrible contract terms (sold seating guarantees by the city) and a fairly isolated location. ​

On the other hand, the newer Petco Park, built downtown for the Padres, has definitely been of benefit because of its multipurpose functionality (concerts and other events), as well as its location adjacent to the Gaslamp Quarter, with all of its shops and restaurants.

As a fairly recent Sacramento transplant, I watched the debate rage before approval was received for the new downtown Golden 1 Center, which serves as an arena for the Kings basketball team, as well as a venue for concerts and other events. Now that the facility is built and operating, it's booked solid and does appear to be having very beneficial effects for the downtown area and the city overall.

For these reasons, I'm not altogether opposed to city and county tax breaks for this purpose, as long as the contract terms are clear and fair, but I am vehemently opposed to any federal subsidies.

[Midwestern Democrat]

62. It's also a "prestige" marker - that the city is important enough to have a pro sports team and

their presence can be used as a lure to attract and retain corporate headquarters, conventions, etc. In the 1970s, Hubert Humphrey advocated building the Metrodome with the argument that without pro sports teams, Minneapolis would basically be a "cold Omaha".

[inwiththenew]

13. One of the biggest examples of crony capitalism in the country today

Not just this case but the whole tax payer funded stadiums. These teams get these sweetheart deals at the expense of the tax payers and when it comes time to renew them they hold the local governments hostage by threatening to move if they don't get everything they want.

[Bengus81]

56. Look no furthur than Houston all those years ago....

[fleur-de-lisa]

15. Exactly!

I'm all for removing the subsidies, but not for this reason. That asshole Havard was a-okay with the subsidies last week. Fuck him!

[enough]

19. Good question. NT

[DBoon]

25. teams should be municipal owned

Or via a co-op of fans.

[Ilsa]

43. ITA, like the Packers. nt

[Bengus81]

57. Nah...but owners should finance and build their OWN damned stadium...

[PatSeg]

28. That was my reaction as well

I am all for pulling tax dollars out of professional football, but not for his reasons.

[Doreen]

32. Yeah, that is what I feel.

I actually hate football so why in the hell should I pay my taxes for it and even if I liked it I would not be able to afford to go. When Seattle put in the new football stadium years ago the upkeep went to the tax payers right after they said it would not.

[Joe Chi Minh]

54. Socialism, tax-funding of the rich is a good thing.

[avebury]

4. The Saints could consider relocating their team elsewhere.

Blame the move on Havard and the Republicans and see how well that goes for the Republicans in Louisiana.

[DK504]

5. What a meathead.

The Saints generate as much money as the tourism business does for the state. Moron state reps have also called to get rid of Movie/TV tax breaks to bring work here. These idiots don't know how to add or subtract.

Moron doesn't releaize the Industry picked up and left at just the rumor of losing tax breaks. All of them went to Georgia. Idiots.

[Ilsa]

44. Georgia has a thriving movie/film/TV industry.

And we thank anyone wanting to send their business our way.

[HopeAgain]

6. I'm in favor of ending subsidies for NFL Teams,

ending the funding of stadiums for professional teams and similar corporate welfare. Talk about making the rich richer...

Anyway, I also support (politically) the players who took a knee during the anthem.

[packman]

9. Never will happen - The Romans knew what kept the crowd happy

Bread and Circus

[bucolic_frolic]

8. The right to dictate political views is a much cherished goal of the GOP?

Understand, these ARE the get the government off our backs crowd.

[ExciteBike66]

10. I think it would be hilarious if the Repubs got the government out of funding pro-sports

teams! That is one goal with which I align completely!

[Scruffy1]

59. It won't happen.

sports serves the purpose of keeping the proles distracted by convincing them it's some how important to them who wins and who loses. it also serves as important metaphore for war. hence the flag being co-opted to represent the miltary, not the people. This guarantees plenty of cannon fodder.

[Liberalagogo]

12. "...the highest form of hypocrisy."

So sayeth a member of the most hypocritical political party that has ever existed.

Project much, Havard?

[matt819]

16. You fucking moron

First of all, no American has fought and died for our freedom since WWII. This is not meant to suggest that Americans haven't fought and died in other wars since then. They have. It's just that our freedom wasn't, and isn't, at stake in those wars.

So there's that.

Second, Americans didn't fight and die so that we could respect the flag. They fought and died to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, and one of the rights granted in that document is the right to free speech.

Third, if you want to prevent them from exercising those rights on the job, then your fucking pharmacists should STFU about not filling prescriptions that somehow violate their snowflake sensitivities. Your fucking bakers and wedding photographers should
STFU about making cakes and taking pictures for gay couples. You should STFU about doctors performing abortions.

Granted, they have first amendment rights. But in your own words, they should protest on their own time.

[Eliot Rosewater]

18. I took a wild guess, I bet myself he was one of those brave men who never serves

but loves talking about it as if he had.

I was right.

At least per wiki I was.

Interestingly though the rap against him is he is too friendly to the Democratic governor so not a true deplorable at heart I guess.

[vkkv]

23. The ENTIRE state LOVES the SAINTS more than they do THAT CLOWN !!!!!!!!!

A TRUE ASS-HAT FOR SURE !!!!!!!

[sinkingfeeling]

24. How long do you think the Saints would stay in New Orleans?

[47of74]

30. Yeah they'll probably look to relocate then...

[Marthe48]

27. People who served in the military I know

feel they defended and protected the Constitution of The United States of America so all Americans had the right of free speech. So what's with some jackass threatening to punish people for exercising their right?

Is there some kind of disease in the air that changes every puke into a fascist?

[KWR65]

31. This is a good start.

We need to end all corporate welfare tax cuts, subsidies and credits. The corps are screwing the tax payer over.

[vkkv]

45. First, make churches that involve themselves in politics pay taxes... nt

[Jimbo101]

33. Same Idiot that wanted to amend bill to limit Strippers age and weight

CBS News

"Republican Rep. Kenny Havard provoked outrage Wednesday when he briefly proposed the amendment to a bill aimed at combating human trafficking by blocking strip clubs from hiring dancers younger than 21.

Female colleagues said an amendment suggesting strippers should only be young and thin was offensive and disrespectful, with one lawmaker saying it made her "repulsed" to be a member of the House. Havard defended it as satire about nanny-state bills and suggested people were overreacting.

By Thursday, the "joke amendment" drew national attention, widespread scorn on social media and commentary across the Louisiana Capitol.

Gov. John Bel Edwards said the joke wasn't funny. Lawmakers sought to distance themselves. And House Speaker Taylor Barras said Havard showed a "lack of judgment."

[riversedge]

40. "Havard showed a "lack of judgment." yup.

[louis-t]

34. This is how tyranny starts.

I think Kenny Havard should not be paid with taxpayer money until he learns what his job is.

[GusBob]

35. New Orleans can say good bye to future Super Bowls if this happens

That'll show 'em!

[Grins]

37. Good luck, asswad. They have a contract.

And the state agreed to it.

[riversedge]

41. Maybe trump will pull out his negotiating 'skills"

[riversedge]

38. LA NAACP President calls for the resignation of State Rep. Kenny Havard for wanting to cut state fun

Bess Casserleigh‏ @BCasserleigh 1h1 hour ago

LA NAACP President calls for the resignation of State Rep. Kenny Havard for wanting to cut state funding for Saints after protests @WBRZ

Link to tweet

[riversedge]

39. This is what human waste looks like. Meet Mr. Sewage/2017, Louisana state Rep. Kenny Havard (R)

Stop Trump

🍷 and 4 others follow
Tim Wilkinson‏ @timtalktoo 2h2 hours ago

This is what human waste looks like. Meet Mr. Sewage/2017, Louisana state Rep. Kenny Havard (R)
https://www.rawstory.com/2017/09/gop-lawmaker-calls-for-stripping-400-million-from-new-orleans-saints-to-punish-players-for-protests/ …

Link to tweet

[itcfish]

42. States Subsidize Football?

What is wrong with this country???

[Luciferous]

46. Well I don't think they should be getting subsidies but not because of this.

[vkkv]

48. Agreed. nt

[vkkv]

47. Kenny Harvard called for a bill banning strippers who were over the age of 28 and/or weighed more

than 160 lbs.


...cuz, morals.. family.. children.. God... The Lord Jesus...

[SummerSnow]

51. Does Trump want the NFL and the NBA under his financial control?

Sounds like it.

[Joe Chi Minh]

52. What a punk ! They could all give less than 100 %,

(if they can't, all as one man, terminate their contracts, resign), until the management dismsses them, wholesale, and the club would go down the toobs for a while - or permanently. While they could continue to live like kings maybe buying a shop or two, making shrewd stock investments - whatever. Heck. Maybe they the could buy out the club. But get shrewd African American businessmen to advise them. Nothing like owning your business to motivate you !

[Joe Chi Minh]

53. The very reason they 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,” he opined.

What risible cant ! The very reason they have the privilege to make so much money and have their bodies and brains mangled (presumably, as a bonus), is so that the vile, ultra-rich, parasitic owners can make more money off their backs.

[Drahthaardogs]

58. Actually, the reason they get to play football is probably some

English or Irish guy bought their ancestors who were abducted from their homes, taken from their families, and brought here against their will.

If we're going to have a history lesson let's get it right

[EarthFirst]

60. NOW we want to end taxpayer subsidies to the NFL?

Your racist agenda is clearly showing, Mr. Harvard.

[JackRiddler]

61. Tough one!

Of course ALL sports teams should either be stripped of their subsidies, or municipalized, or made fan-owned like the Packers.

And of course this dumb fuck should be slapped down for bringing that up in this context.

& this is why I hate day-to-day politics!

[Hieronymus]

63. Very Naziesque.