Priest stabbed to death in his Home

From Eric Dondero:

We have been following the story of the continuing violence by Muslims on Christians in Egypt since the downfall of Mubarak.

See LR "Reports... At least 11 Christians killed by Muslim extremists in Egypt, including Children" Feb. 3.

Now this, from the Winnipeg Free Press "Coptic Christian priest killed in Egypt" Feb. 25:

ASSIUT, Egypt - A Coptic Christian priest has been killed in southern Egypt, triggering street demonstrations by several thousand Christians.

The priest was found dead in his home. A fellow clergyman, Danoub Thabet, says his body had several stab wounds. He says neighbours reported seeing several masked men leaving the apartment and shouting "Allahu akbar," or "God is great," suggesting the killing was motivated by the divide between Egypt's Muslims and its minority Coptic community.

The American media is giving very scant coverage to this story.

Religous Police on every Street Corner: "Show us your papers please"

From Eric Dondero:

A spokesman for Hamas Yousef Rizka, a senior government official in Gaza, told the London Telegraph, Yousef Rizka: "We respect freedom."

According to the Telegraph, "Gaza's elected Islamist rulers crack down on secular community" the List of some activities now banned by Hamas in Gaza, include:

1. Novels it deems offensive to Islam

2. Bars

3. Cinemas

4. Women walking outside in Western clothes

5. Male hairdressers

From the Telegraph:

In recent years, hardliners have burned down the cinemas. Their charred remains are still visible in Gaza City. Militants blew up the last bar in 2005.

Gaza women, whose attire once varied from Western pants and skirts to colourful traditional embroidered robes, began donning ankle-length loose robes.

And don't even dare walking outside with your wife without the correct documentation.

Continuing:

Today, plainclothes officers sometimes halt couples in the streets, demanding to see marriage licenses.

Editor's comment - You gotta ask, where are the US Libertarians on this? Why the silence? Why no outcry from so-called Civil Liberties advocates in the United States? Where are they?

MOOCHER WATCH!

From Eric Dondero:

Four years ago, the Labour Party introduced an expansion of the Mother's Milk program to include fruits and vegetables. Over 600,000 women currently receive the taxpayer-subsidized government hand-out.

From the UK Telegraph "New mothers swap fruit vouchers for booze and cigarettes":

Now a Government survey of more than 2,000 retailers, health professionals and recipients has found that more than one in five knew of occasions when shops had swapped the tokens for products outside the scheme... trading vouchers for alcohol and cigarettes.

Limited government advocates in the UK are steaming. Continuing:

Emma Boon, campaign director of The TaxPayers’ Alliance, urged the Coalition to abolish the scheme.

She said: “All these endless handouts from the nanny state do nothing but encourage shameless behaviour from those in society who would rather spend money on cigarettes and alcohol than on their own children.”

“It’s naive of the Government to give out these vouchers and expect the scheme to have an impact on how much healthy food mums or mums-to-be are buying. This misguided programme is wasting taxpayers’ money and should be scrapped.”

Photo - actual famous UK welfare queen, who scammed the UK welfare system.

Those Crazy Caucasians

From Clifford F. Thies:

A group calling itself the "Former Majority Association for Equality" is offering scholarships for white males at Texas Tech at San Marcos. Applicants must carry at least a 3.0 GPA and be at least 25 percent caucasian.

Not quite in the same league as Bill Gates' Billionium Scholarship Fund, open to anyone who is not white, the group hopes to raise enough money to award five scholarships of $500 each.

As to who qualifies as "caucasian," the organization says anybody whose lineage is at least 25 percent caucasian. Let's see. That would include such disadvantaged Americans as Halle Barry, Tiger Woods, Derek Jeter and, of course, President Obama.

Next on the agenda? Caucasian Heritage Month, Caucasian Entertainment Television, Caucasian Studies?

Before and After

From Eric Dondero:

MADD was the main nationwide proponent of lowering the legal limit from the normally accepted .01 (basically 2 1/2 beers an hour), to .08.

One past president of MADD was way over .01, let alone .08.

From MyFox - Orlando, Feb. 25:

MARION COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - A woman who was the former president of the Mothers Against Drunk Driving chapter in Gainesville has been arrested for drunk driving.

Debra Oberlin, 48, was arrested around 1:00 a.m. February 18 after police say the car she was driving was swerving on Northwest 39th Street. According to the arrest report she was given two breathalyzer tests and measured .234 and .239. The limit in Florida is .08.

Journalist-turned-blogger Jonathan Turly calls her mugshot "awkward," and notes dryly, that her local MADD chapter "was closed due to lack of funds." Did that drive her to drink?

From Eric Dondero:

Rand Paul on David Letterman, Thursday night. Senator Paul schools Letterman on free market economics. They discuss taxes, Wisconsin public workers union controversy, and education funding.

Letterman finally relents:

You know I think he's wrong about some of these things. I just can't tell you why.

Leftists Go Bezerk

by Eric Dondero

You've heard the stories. A hard-working farming or ranching family has the boys waking up at 5:00 in the morning to feed the cows, and the girls to help Mom out in the kitchen to prepare daily meals for the ranch-hands.

Well, to liberals that's simply an outdated notion.

OSHA or some other alphabet soup government agency steps in and fines the family heavily, under so-called "Child Labor Laws." In an increasing amount of cases the family farm or ranch is forced to declare bankruptcy, putting several workers on the un-employment lines.

Conservatives, libertarians: Teach Teens a Work Ethic

Now comes a courageous MO State Senator who is standing up to liberal Nanny-Staters.

From the Riverfront Times, Feb. 15:

Jane Cunningham (R - West County) believes Missouri kids need to improve their work ethic so she's sponsoring a bill (SB 222) that would repeal much of the state's child labor laws.

According to the bill's official summary, children under the age of 14 would no longer be barred from employment. They'd also be able to work all hours of the day, no longer need a work permit from their school and be able to work at motels and resorts... Moreover, businesses that employ children would no longer be subject to inspections from the Division of Labor Standards.

From the Bill:

SB 222 – This act modifies the child labor laws. It eliminates the prohibition on employment of children under age fourteen. Restrictions on the number of hours and restrictions on when a child may work during the day are also removed. It also repeals the requirement that a child ages fourteen or fifteen obtain a work certificate or work permit in order to be employed. Children under sixteen will also be allowed to work in any capacity in a motel, resort or hotel where sleeping accommodations are furnished. It also removes the authority of the director of the Division of Labor Standards to inspect employers who employ children and to require them to keep certain records for children they employ. It also repeals the presumption that the presence of a child in a workplace is evidence of employment.

Better to "Stay in School" say the Busy Body pro-government Nannys

The Senator was quoted at StaffingTalk.com:

[Rep. Cunningham said] her two adult sons both held jobs as minors and are “better for it.”

“My aim is to put back some common sense,” she said. “We’re not doing students any favor by telling them, ‘You cannot work.’ ”

Naturally, the liberals are on the attack. Their argument, not surprisingly, is that 14-year olds are better served being in public indoctrination camps, otherwise known as public education.

Blogger David Gee:

traditional bastions of child labor such as glass factories and textile mills aren’t exactly growth industries today, and there is less demand for newsboys, messengers, bootblacks and peddlers. But surely there is somewhere in this job-starved land, or at least Missouri, where we can pull kids from the classroom and teach them instead about the miseries of low paying working life.

And of course, after high school, there's the ultimate public indoctrination camp, otherwise known as public universities and colleges. And a high unemployment rate keeps those "kiddies" in liberal classrooms til the ripe old age of 22, or 23.

Release...

Senate Comm. Hears Bill on Employees' Liberty - Measure Would Make Missouri "Right to Work"

Missouri State Senator Jane Cunningham (R-Chesterfield)

JEFFERSON CITY – Fifty percent of manufacturers refuse to consider Missouri as a place to locate new jobs because Missouri law has no protection against forced unionization of their workers, according to testimony given Tuesday in the Senate General Laws Committee. Senate Bill 1, sponsored by Sen. Luann Ridgeway, R-Smithville, would change that by giving employees the freedom to choose whether or not to join a union as a condition of getting or keeping a job.

Ridgeway said recent census data shows that businesses with jobs and the workers who take them are fleeing to states with worker protection laws, also know as “Right to Work.”

“With an unemployment rate at nearly ten percent, Missouri must consider every obstacle to putting our citizens back to work,” Ridgeway said. “It is clear that job producers and the workers who take those jobs are voting with their feet on the ‘Right to Work’ issue because they are moving to states that have this protection.”

As recently reported, Missouri will lose a Congressional seat. Ridgeway testified that non-“Right to Work” states lost a total of nine Congressional seats and, due to population shifts, “Right to Work” states gained 11 Congressional seats.

“At this important time, losing jobs, our manufacturing base, as well as representation in Congress... is a trend that must be reversed,” added Ridgeway.

Senate Leader Robert N. Mayer, R-Dexter, supports the measure and said making Missouri a “Right to Work” state would be another reason for businesses to expand or locate here.

“While Missouri has lost more than 100,000 jobs since June of 2008, many ‘Right to Work’ states have faired far better,” said Mayer. “Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show that unemployment is lower in the 22 states that have adopted ‘Right to Work’ laws. In the last decade, those states have added 1.5 million private sector jobs, while non-‘Right to Work’ states have lost 1.8 million jobs. That should be a wake-up call that now is the time to allow Missouri to compete.”

Six of Missouri’s eight neighboring states are “Right to Work” states and all but one has a lower unemployment rate than Missouri. Tennessee, the only “Right to Work” state with a comparable unemployment rate to Missouri, gained jobs in 2010, Missouri lost jobs.

Sen. Jane Cunningham, who chairs the committee, said much of the testimony highlighted Missouri’s need to better compete to bring more jobs to Missouri.

“It was alarming to learn from those who consult U.S. and foreign manufacturing companies on new site locations that 50 percent of those companies are not even considering Missouri because we are not a ‘Right to Work’ state,” Cunningham said. “That shows by not changing we are costing Missouri jobs.”

The committee also heard testimony that per household income was higher in “Right to Work” states than in forced union states. Data cited from a study published in 2000 by Dr. James T. Bennett, a professor for George Mason University, demonstrated that the mean two-income household in a “Right to Work” state had nearly $2,000 more in after-tax purchasing power than its counterpart in a non-“Right to Work” state. A study published in 2005 by Dr. Barry Poulson, a professor at the University of Colorado, determined real disposable income in metropolitan areas in “Right to Work” states is higher, with nearly $4,300 more in after-tax purchasing power than its counterpart in a non-“Right to Work” state.

Ridgeway noted that if Missouri becomes a “Right to Work” state, employees will still be allowed to unionize and employers will still be allowed to enter into collective bargaining agreements and hire union labor.

“‘Right to Work’ is not about whether unions can continue to operate in Missouri,” said Ridgeway. “Rather it is about removing a legal barrier that is harming our state’s ability to compete for jobs that impact the 89 percent of Missourians that are not union members.”

The committee also heard a similar bill, Senate Bill 197, also sponsored by Ridgeway that would send the measure to voters. To learn more about these bills, visit http://www.senate.mo.gov.

From Eric Dondero:

As many regular LR readers have become aware of over the years, weekends are a bit less "on-format." We get a little more loose.

If you come to LR on a Monday or any weekday, you're going to find mostly straight-forward, hard-hitting news, with some occasional light-hearted stuff mixed in, for the evenings.

On Saturdays, we're going to start running an increased amount of press releases from various Republican legislators and congressman. Mostly, in full (sometimes edited down a bit). And also from libertarian-oriented organizations.

So, if you've got a favorite politician or organization that has a release of interest to libertarian Republicans, sent it along to me, or send me a note with a link.

General Stuff; We're hoofin' along at a regular 950 visitors a day, mostly over 1,000 during the week, lower 900s on the weekends.

We have one of the most steady, regular readerships in the right-blogging community. Most others bounce around from 500 one day, to 2,000 the next to 200 after that. We almost never fall below 800.

Of course, we'd much prefer to be at the regular 1,050 a day. Help us out, by recommending the site to a friend. And signing up at the top for the Daily LR Newsletter which gives you a well-formatted, quick to read summary of the day's posts.

IMPORTANT!

Finally, you may have noticed we are at 290 Google Followers (sidebar). Please! help us to boost that over 300. If you are not a Follower, please become one ASAP. It's rare for a blogspot to reach over 300. We're on the edge of accomplishing that goal. Help us please!

From Eric Dondero:

Congressman John Campbell has often been on the libertarian radar, but never highlighted as one of the top libertarian Republicans. With this new piece of legislation, his standing in the LR community may rise greatly.

From SF Gate, "Online gambling could be California revenue source"

In Washington next month, self-described "libertarian-leaning Republican" Rep. John Campbell of Newport Beach (Orange County) will join Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Barney Frank to introduce a bill that would lift federal restrictions to online gambling.

It will be similar to a measure that the Democratic-controlled House Finance Committee passed 41-22 last year with seven Republican votes.

Campbell remains optimistic, even though the House is now controlled by his fellow Republicans. He could attract Tea Party support describing it as "freedom issue" and as a matter of consumer protection.

"I don't think this is something we should be banning or making illegal," Campbell said. "Americans want to gamble online and they're doing it now in droves, but they're using offshore sites that don't provide anything for the economy of the United States and don't provide any protections for these people who are gambling."

Campbell.house.gov

Exit Poll: Fine Gael within reach of a majority

by Clifford F. Thies

It will be a couple more days before we know for sure, but an exit poll puts Fine Gael within reach of a majority of seats in the new Irish national assembly.

Fine Gael (a center-right party in affiliation with the Christian Democrats of Europe) came in first, with 36 percent; Labor (center-left) second, with 25 percent; and, Fianna Fail (a centrist party in affiliation with the Liberal parties of Europe) third, with 15 percent. The rest of the votes were scattered amongst the Green Party, Sinn Fein (a stridently republican and socialist party), and
independents.

In the Irish system of voting, members of the national assembly are elected from multi-member districts by the single transferable vote method. For example, in a five-member district, any candidate receiving enough first preference votes is elected, and others are elected as necessary from the transfer of votes to candidates with a chance of winning from the second or lower preference votes of
candidates who were defeated. With 36 percent of first preferences for Fine Gael and 25 percent for Labor, it is possible that Fine Gael and Labor will dominate the new assembly, with Fine Gael having a majority and Labor a large minority.

If Fine Gael does not fetch an outright majority of the seats, it may be able to reach the 50 percent mark with the support of some of the independents, most of whom have a center-right orientation, or even with Fianna Fail, reduced as it may be to small party status. In any case, the strong showing for Fine Gael means that the economic policies that transformed Ireland from a poor country into one of the
richest in the world will survive the financial crisis of 2008. Fine Gael proposes to bring the country's budget into balance through spending cuts along with some help from Germany and perhaps some other EU countries in re-financing its debt on more favorable terms.

Since independence, Ireland has mostly been governed by a coalition led either by Fianna Fail or Fine Gael. The main difference between the two, traditionally, is that Fianna Fail is a wee bit more republican (meaning, nowadays, anxious for unification of the island as an independent republic) and a wee bit more populist (or, socially-conservative).

During the 1990s, Fianna Fail came to be associated with liberalization of the Irish economy. But, that was when Fianna Fail was in coalition with the Progressive Party, a libertarian party that is now dissolved. For a time, it seemed as though Fianna Fail tilted a bit toward free-market policies and Fine Gael to socialist policies; but, that was mostly due to two tails (the Progressives and Labor, smaller coalition partners) wagging two dogs.

More coverage of recent Euro elections at our sister site Worldwide Liberty.

PC WATCH!

From Eric Dondero:

Diana Waterman is the newly-elected Vice-Chair of the Republican Party of Maryland. And she has found herself in a big controversy.

Seems locals in Queens Anne County, on a local community blog, have discovered a huge scandal: She has a black cow named Oprah. The cow is actually a Black Angus.

From NBC Washington:

According to the Baltimore Sun, the issue came to light on a recent Facebook posting when the cow birthed a calf.

The Sun says the posting caught the attention of Sveinn Storm, who runs a Queen Anne's County-focused blog called "Pave Our County?"

Storm criticized Waterman's naming the cow after the African-American talk show host who has struggled with her weight. Storm say that's "precisely why an enormouse number of Americans view Republicans as racists."

Waterman defends the name. In a response to the Sun she said her children named the family's three cows. Oprah was named for a person they admire. The other two, Ferdinand and Isabella are named after the Spanish monarchs who approved Christopher Columbus's trip to the New World.

The State GOP is not rolling over for the PC mavens. A spokesman for the Maryland Republican Party commented:

"With Maryland facing a record budget deficit, historic unemployment and a government that spends beyond its means, I'm not sure why we're talking about cows," said Ryan Mahoney.

Photo - Waterman with libertarian Republican presidential candidate Gary Johnson at the most recent State GOP convention in Ocean City.

Release: February 18, 2011

Michael S. Murphy, Chairman
Terri McCormack, Vice-Chair

MILWAUKEE, WI. — The Republican Liberty Caucus of Wisconsin, a state affiliate of the Republican Liberty Caucus, officially endorses and supports Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's Budget Repair Bill. The decision to endorse Governor Walker and the Republican Legislation's efforts to pass the repair bill resulted in a unanimous decision amongst the RLC-WI's Board of Directors.

Wisconsin RLC Chairman, Michael S. Murphy, spoke in strong support of the repair bill. "The RLC-WI supports Governor Scott Walker and the Republican Legislation in their efforts to curtail runaway government spending. We also want to commend these brave lawmakers for standing strong against oppositional union forces, which have resulted in numerous threats to their safety already. The RLC-WI stands behind this effort 100% and we hope that not one Republican Legislator waivers in their decision to support this bill before it is made into law." Murphy continued, "We are especially proud of the seven RLC-WI endorsed State Representatives, who recently took office after winning their respective elections in November, 2010. They are truly upholding the RLC standard and keeping their committed promises to reduce government spending."

The seven RLC-WI endorsed State Representatives are: André Jacque (Dist 2), Jim Steineke (Dist 5), Chris Kapanga (Dist 33), Evan Wynn (Dist 43), Jeremy Thiesfeldt (Dist 52), Scott Krug (Dist 72), and Roger Rivard (Dist 75).

Although the Republican Liberty Caucus of Wisconsin endorsed Governor Walker's Republican Primary opponent, Mark Neumann, during the 2010 Republican Gubernatorial Primary, this bill to limit government spending falls right in line with the mission of the RLC.

Founded in 1991, the Republican Liberty Caucus works to advance the Republican principles of individual liberty, limited government, and free market economics. Learn more about the Wisconsin Caucus at WIRLC.org

Egyptian Attackers shouted "Jew, Jew, Jew" as they Raped her

Malkin:

If CBS News wants to do right by her, and right by all the other journalists who were attacked last week... what they should do is finally find some spine, and refuse to whitewash the truth about who these assailants were, [and] what they were motivated by...

that's what I mean about the whitewashing of Radical Islam. When will they finally speak truth to Islamic Caliphate power?

And what of Lohan vs. Obama?

From Cliff Thies:

The latest Rasmussen Poll shows President Barack Obama in a statistical tie with Ron Paul, 42 indicating a preference for Obama and 41 percent for Paul. The remaining 17 percent broke down as follows: 10 percent undecided, 5 percent befuddled, and 2 percent dumbfounded.

In another potential match-up, President Obama was clearly ahead of Lindsay Lohan.

Editor's comment - Does drug-law reformer Paul have the edge over Lohan with the Anti-Drug War voters? Of course, the Hollywood actress has a bit of a history on the drug issue.

NANNY-STATE WATCH

Dog lovers vs. Democrat Ninny

From Eric Dondero:

Yet more nanny-state nonsense brought to you by the Democrat Party USA.

Fox News reports:

House Bill 998, introduced by state Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon, D-Texas, would require owners of unleashed, un-neutered male dogs over 20 pounds to carry a liability insurance policy of at least $100,000. Violations would be classified as a misdemeanor, and punishable by a fine up to $500.

"There is a movement inside the animal rights lobby to try to force mandatory spay and neuter laws across the states, and this is just another way to get at it," said Rob Sexton, vice president of the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance. The group, which works with sporting dogs, calls the bill "unnecessary and unreasonable" and has asked Texas sportsmen to actively oppose it.

Of course, with huge Republican majorities in both the House and Senate in Texas, it's highly unlikely such a bill will ever see the light of day.

A Conservative with a libertarian streak splits from the Social Conservatives

From Eric Dondero:

Montana is the only State in the Nation considering a repeal of previously passed Medical Marijuana reform. Running against the grain of the MT GOP's typical libertarian streak, a dissapointedly high number of Republican legislators back the repeal.

But one Republican on the judiciary committee which oversees the repeal legislation is speaking out.

From Google News (via AP) "State reconsiders turbulent medical marijuana biz"

Democrats largely oppose repeal, arguing that lawmakers should not undo a voter-approved initiative.

Several Republicans in the GOP-controlled Senate agree.

"I am not going to support the repeal," said Republican Sen. Chas Vincent, a 33-year-old former logger who holds a key vote in the judiciary committee. "I believe that cannabis has real, beneficial impacts to those who need to use it for medicine."

Democrat Gov. Schweitzer is not commiting himself one way or the other on the issue.

Self-reliance, Private Sector, and Churches simply better at teaching Kids, they say

From Eric Dondero:

An unbelievably nasty controversy has emerged in Frederick County, Maryland, after two Republican County Commissioners voted in favor of cutting the Head Start budget by 50%. They had the audacity of suggesting private alternatives to raising kids.

From (Maryland Community News) Gazette.net:

Frederick County has been in an uproar this past week over the meaning behind comments made by Commissioners C. Paul Smith (photo) and Kirby Delauter during a meeting in which they voted to pull $2.3 million in county funding from Head Start.

The commissioners argued that the cut would help fill a nearly $12 million budget gap in fiscal 2012, which starts July 1.

In explaining their votes, both men espoused the virtue of marriage and praised their wives for staying home to raise their children.

Commisioner Smith remarked:

"I know everybody isn't able to survive doing that, but clearly as we can strengthen marriage, we can decrease the children that we have to reach. And I think the best approach, ultimately, will be through the private sector, churches, in doing this."

Commissioner Delauter:

"I agree, again, with Commissioner Smith. You know, the marriage thing is very important. I mean, education of your kids starts at home, OK?"

Commissioner Smith again:

"I never relied on anyone else to guarantee the education of my kids. I was, my wife and I are the ultimate decision makers on the education of our kids."

Maryland Left blogs and news sites are in a feeding frenzy over the statements.

Sample of reactions from ProgressiveDelMarVa:

these two Republican officials feel its appropriate to cut the program in order to foist their chosen family structure onto society at-large, and in the process, hurt low-income families and the futures of their children in Frederick County.

Note - Frederick County lies northwest of Baltimore.

"Tough-minded... Pro-American" future Leader

From Eric Dondero:

This was Robert Ringer, writing in 1978:

The only party I know of that offers a platform respectful of the rights of every individual, is the Libertarian Party.

Libertarianism is the belief that every man should have dominion over his own life and property. If you believe in the American Dream, you already are a libertarian.

There is no question that the Libertarian Party offers a distinct alternative... I cannot help but wonder how much closer th citizens of this country would be to taking back America had [Libertarian Party Presidential candidates] John Hospers been elected to the presidency in 1972, or Roger MacBride in 1976.

Hospers 1972, MacBride '76... Allen West 2016!

Now this from WND "Republican life after CPAC":

The biggest surprise at CPAC was the keynote closing speaker, Allen West, newly elected congressman from Florida. West's speech brought the house down, reminding me of Barack Obama's keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. No question about it, a star was born at CPAC on Feb. 12.

While listening to West's speech, it occurred to me that he is so sound, so bright, so tough, so pro-American that it's a shame he won't be running for president in 2012. In a head-to-head debate, West would have Obama backpedaling nonstop.

It's a fantasy debate that would have the aura of a principal scolding a naughty student. West is a man's man; Obama is a flower child in a suit, with his mind still naively fascinated by the idea of a classless society. I will predict right here and now that [in the] presidential election in 2016, West will win if he decides to run.

Note - Robert Ringer is the author of the mid-1970s NY Times #1 Best Seller, "Looking out for Number One." He is a longtime favorite of the Libertarian Party speaking circuit. In 1978 he wrote the modern Libertarian classic, "Restoring the American Dream." The book sold millions. It literally put the Libertarian Party on the map. For years, the LP used it as a hand-out, distributing tens of thousands of copies nationwide.

Blames Republicans for budget cuts to National Labor Board

From Eric Dondero:

Apparently, this Democrat Congressman from New York does not believe the National Football League and the Players Association have the funds available to hire lawywers and professional mediators to work out their disputes. Government has to step in.

From TheHill "Dem: GOP plan threatens NFL season":

The Republicans' plan to cut billions of dollars in federal spending could threaten the next season of the National Football League (NFL), a House Democrat charged Thursday.

Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) said steep cuts to the National Labor Relation Board (NLRB), as proposed by Republicans, could leave the league without an effective mediator if the players strike later this year, as they're threatening to do.

"If Republicans got their way, it is likely the NLRB would have insufficient resources to properly mediate a dispute between the owners and players," Engel said Thursday in a statement. "That would result in stadiums across the country being dark, and thousands of people who work in them out of work come September."

Republicans, "plan to cut $61 billion in federal spending this fiscal year." As part of that plan, $50 million is slated to be cut from the NLRB.

Note - NFL owners already receive enormous taxpayer subsidies for the construction of new stadiums. Source - NFL Players Assoc. website.

Editor's comment - Somehow this Engel guy doesn't strike me as your typical NFL fan?