Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) offered an exasperated response to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) on the Senate floor Monday night after the Texas senator opposed an amendment Kennedy introduced. The Senate was debating the Protect College Sports Act, a bill supported by the NCAA. The legislation would give the NCAA an antitrust exemption that would allow the association to restore a five-year eligibility rule and impose limits on athletes transferring between schools. A host of labor unions and athlete advocacy groups oppose the bill. Critics such as Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) noted that the bill places a cap on the cut of revenues that students receive while placing no such limit on coaches’ salaries or donations to athletic programs. President Donald Trump has urged Congress to pass the bill. Before the vote on Monday night, Kennedy introduced an amendment to the legislation that would cap yearly ticket price increases at NCAA games at four percent. Cruz spoke out against the amendment on the Senate floor, arguing it would prevent burgeoning sports programs from raising more revenue than they otherwise would. “For example, let’s say a small school has an unbelievable football season and is considered college football playoff material,” Cruz said. “The next season, that same team has a schedule that is playing well-known teams like Notre Dame or Alabama, who are drawing a significant crowd and increased fan interest and demand. This amendment would prevent that small school, whose fans believe they are playoff material, from being able to respond to that fan interest and build revenues that could be put back in the university and back into the student athletes. And critically, the revenue that is shared with student-athletes comes from ticket sales. So, capping the prices on ticket sales would reduce the revenue that is available to student-athletes. I encourage members to vote no.” Kennedy, who was not recognized by the chair, piped up loudly and indignantly. “All this bill does is fix prices,” Kennedy replied. “It fixes prices on everybody. Why don’t we do something for the fans, for God sakes? Don’t tell me this isn’t a price-fixing bill.” As Kennedy spoke, the chair attempted to restore order. “Am I out of order, Mr. President?” Kennedy asked. “Yes, substantially,” the chair replied. Kennedy’s amendment failed 42-54. The bill, which Kennedy supported, passed 77-22. The legislation will need to be taken up by the House, where… [TheTopNews] Read More.
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