Brett Wilkins is a staff writer for Common Dreams.
US Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Greg Casar on Tuesday introduced a bill that would require owners of professional sports franchises who are considering relocating to give the communities in which they are located a chance to buy the teams first.
'The American people are sick and tired of billionaires threatening to move the sports teams they own to different states unless they get hundreds of millions in corporate welfare to build new stadiums,” Sanders said in a statement announcing the Home Team Act.'In my view, professional sports teams should be owned and controlled by the fans who love them, not by the multibillionaire oligarchs who are getting even richer by charging outrageous prices and getting taxpayers to pick up their extravagant costs,' he continued.'You shouldn’t have to be wealthy to take your family to a football game,' Sanders added. 'You shouldn’t have to fear that a multibillionaire will move your favorite team to a different city if taxpayers refuse to subsidize it. The Home Team Act is a very modest piece of legislation that begins to address this problem. I am proud to support it.”The Home Team Act is cosponsored by Democratic Sens. Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut—which lost the National Hockey League's Hartford Whalers to North Carolina in the 1990s—and five House Democrats.If passed as written, the bill would:Require sports franchise owners to provide notice a year before moving the team to a new community, defined by crossing state lines or moving to a new Metropolitan Statistical Area;Give communities a chance to purchase a franchise during that year, including through the sort of successful community ownership model used by the National Football League's Green Bay Packers; andPenalize noncompliant franchise owners.“Sports in America should be about more than just making billionaire owners even richer,' Casar said Thursday.'Far too many Americans know the pain of losing a team, and far too many communities have had to fork over billions in subsidies just to keep an already profitable team home,' he added. 'Our bill is about creating a level playing field so leagues work for fans and taxpayers, not just owners.”Sanders' office acknowledged that 'team relocation has plagued communities across America for decades,' from the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants moving respectively to Los Angeles and San Francisco in 1958 to the Oakland Athletics—who previously called Philadelphia and Kansas City home—relocating to Sacramento and, eventually, Las Vegas.Oaklanders have arguably felt the heartbreak of losing their beloved pro sports franchises more than any other US city, having lost the As, the NFL's Raiders, and the Warriors of the National Basketball Association in a five-year span.'Currently, the Chicago Bears are threatening to leave the city after more than 100 years in response to the state of Indiana offering massive subsidies,' Sanders' office said of the storied NFL franchise known for its passionately loyal fan base. 'The bill would prevent the Bears from being moved across state lines without being offered for sale.'In his youth, Sanders—who grew up during a time when Jewish players dominated racially segregated professional basketball—was known for his killer mid-range jump shot. As a senator, he has championed professional athletes, especially baseball players, during their collective bargaining struggles against oligarch owners.Sanders still holds a grudge against the former owner of the beloved Brooklyn Dodgers of his youth who relocated the team to Los Angeles in 1958, when he was a teenager. In 2018, he posted an old Brooklyn adage that 'the three worst people in modern history were Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley—but not necessarily in that order.'Serving in the House of Representatives at the time, Sanders even had a bit part in the 1999 comedy “My X-Girlfriend’s Wedding Reception,' in which he played Manny Shevitz, a rabbi who argues that the Dodgers leaving Brooklyn was the 'worst thing that ever happened.'
Greg-Casar Sports Billionaires Us-Congress
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Government Shutdown Talks Stalled as Democrats Reject Latest ProposalNegotiations to end the partial government shutdown are facing a setback after Democrats rejected the White House's latest proposal. The disagreement centers on funding for the Department of Homeland Security and reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The shutdown is impacting airport operations nationwide, with long wait times and staffing shortages reported by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
Read more »
Government Shutdown Talks Stalled as Democrats Push Back on White House ProposalNegotiations to end the partial government shutdown have encountered a setback. Democrats are rejecting the latest White House proposal due to the absence of reforms at Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The shutdown continues to impact the Department of Homeland Security, leading to operational challenges at airports, including staffing shortages and long wait times for travelers. With Congress heading into recess, pressure mounts to reach a resolution.
Read more »
Live updates: Iran receives 15-point US ceasefire proposal from Trump administration, Pakistan officials sayThe Trump administration reportedly offered the ceasefire plan to Iran as the U.S. appears to look for an end to the war even as more troops head to the Middle East.
Read more »
Pakistan delivers US ceasefire proposal to Iran as troop deployments loomThe U.S. sent Iran a 15-point ceasefire plan via Pakistan, offering sanctions relief and missile limits as more troops head to the Middle East.
Read more »
U.S. Offers 15-Point Ceasefire Proposal to Iran Through PakistanPakistan officials report the U.S. has presented a 15-point proposal to Iran, encompassing sanctions relief, nuclear cooperation, nuclear program rollback, IAEA monitoring, missile limits, and shipping access. This comes as the U.S. prepares to deploy troops to the Middle East, with ongoing challenges regarding Iranian negotiation willingness and objectives.
Read more »
Iranian officials reject US ceasefire proposal as troop deployments loomThe U.S. sent Iran a 15-point ceasefire plan via Pakistan, offering sanctions relief and missile limits as more troops head to the Middle East.
Read more »