Lawmakers attack Pentagon funding sports teams as 'paid patriotism'

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Politics | Wed Nov 4, 2015 3:15pm EST

Lawmakers attack Pentagon funding sports teams as 'paid patriotism'

WASHINGTON

The U.S. Congress is moving to shut down a scheme that lawmakers said funneled millions of taxpayer dollars from the Pentagon to professional sports teams for honoring American soldiers at sporting events.

Since 2012, the Pentagon paid out at least $6.8 million in contracts to teams in the National Football League, Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League and Major League Soccer, according to Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain and his fellow Arizona senator, Jeff Flake.

Dubbing the practice "paid patriotism," the Republican senators found that the Department of Defense had entered into at least 72 contracts with the professional teams to pay for ceremonies in packed stadiums.

Asked at a news conference whether the soldiers being honored were aware that the Pentagon was paying the teams, McCain said: "Obviously they did not know that their appearances were being used in a way that would monetarily benefit the teams that were sponsoring these events."

McCain said a massive military authorization bill moving through Congress will contain a provision prohibiting the Pentagon practice.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/11/04/us-usa-pentagon-sports-idUSKCN0ST2SF20151104

[KamaAina]

1. Maybe they could pay the Washington NFL team to change its name to the Pentagons.

[El Supremo]

2. The Pork Barrels!

Hell, they are already known as the:

[hughee99]

3. Let's put a fun spin on this...

John McCain offended that the DoD was spending almost $2 million a year honoring veterans and active duty troops at sporting events.

Billions in wasteful spending at the pentagon over the years (trillions combined over all his years in the senate), but he draws the line at spending the money on honoring the troops.

[Auggie]

4. 6.8 million isn't a lot, but would be welcomed by VA services I imagine

That explains all the flag waving.

[joeybee12]

5. Begs the question....

Why won't the professional teams do this voluntarily? Besides, I bet most people think they are doing it out of the goodness of their so-called hearts.