Congresswoman Betty McCollum's latest attempt to eliminate what she deems wasteful government spending on sports like pro wrestling and auto racing has failed.
Last week, the Minnesota democrat offered an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2014 aimed at cutting the $53 million the Army National Guard spends on marketing programs with World Wrestling Entertainment, NASCAR and Indy Car racing. The amendment was defeated by a vote of 290-134 in the House of Representatives.
BassFans will recall that McCollum and Georgia republican Jack Kingston last year sponsored an amendment targeting military spending in pro sports, including auto racing and fishing. The measure ultimately failed, but their efforts are believed to be the reason behind the National Guard's decision to discontinue its involvement as a major sponsor of FLW.
“This is a Congress that has its priorities seriously wrong," McCollum said in a release posted on her website. "I am watching Republicans and Democrats coming together to slash government spending by kicking poor children off the school lunch program and denying low-income seniors access to food. Then these same folks turn around and protect a $53 million taxpayer handout to NASCAR and pro-wrestling. It just shows the American people the extent to which Congress is addicted to spending that directly benefits special interests like NASCAR."
