Last week, the US Congress decided to stick its nose into the NFL retiree dispute. The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law will hold a hearing on June 26th. The issue of concern was noted by Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (D-CA) who stated that “[t]he NFL is a billion-dollar industry, and yet the players who built the league are too often left to fend for themselves”.
That is probably true, but the issue is none of Congress’ business. They should butt out and let the NFL and its current and former players resolve the issue.Congress was assigned specific duties by the Constitution. Other duties not assigned are to remain off-limits. However, since our “public servants” in Washington are addicted to grandstanding and, with a few exceptions, have no respect for the Constitution, an NFL retiree dispute is turned into a national issue, just like the steroids show trial of 2005 .
I love football. I love watching the NFL. I also love my father who happens to be an NFL retiree. But Congress should not be taking precious time out to listen to a few NFL retirees when there are clearly greater issues to be dealt with.
Instead of crowing about the size of Barry Bonds’ head or how the NFL should pay more for the spiraling healthcare costs of retirees, Congress should be examining their own role in causing healthcare costs to skyrocket . Maybe if they did that and revoked their harmful policies, more players would be able to afford treatment without incurring huge amounts of debt.
Also, isn’t there a war going on? Why don’t they discuss that on June 26th instead of a retirement policy that effects 0.0000001% of the population?
Leave the NFL alone, Congress. It can settle its issues well enough without your meddling.
