McCollum: Stop Spending Defense Funds on Pro Wrestling Ads

Congresswoman Betty McCollum’s amendment to a defense-spending bill that would have prohibited the Army National Guard from buying ads during pro wrestling and racing events was defeated Friday by a 289-134 vote.

The amendment would have cut more than $53 million in advertising costs for such events, which haven’t shown a commensurate return in terms of enlistments, according to a release from her office.

“This is a Congress that has its priorities seriously wrong. 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,” McCollum, a Democrat who represents Oakdale in the U.S. House, said in a statement. “Then these same folks turn around and protect a $53 million taxpayer handout to NASCAR and pro-wrestling.”

The amendment would have prohibited the Army National Guard from continuing its current contracts with the following companies:

• World Wrestling Entertainment: $5,150,000
• NASCAR: $29,962,425
• Indy Race League: $14,496,424
• American Motorcycle Association: $3,960,100

“It just shows the American people the extent to which Congress is addicted to spending that directly benefits special interests like NASCAR,” McCollum said.