Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry called upon the state’s Democratic governor John Bel Edwards to support the state legislature’s review of any taxpayer financing that goes towards the New Orleans Saints.
On Monday, Republican State Reps. Kenny Havard and Valerie Hodges proposed that the state legislature should review the taxpayer financing of the Mercedez Benz Super Dome stadium, which is used by the Saints, after 10 players refused to stand for the “Star-Spangled Banner.”
“This is a state-funded sporting event–or subsidized sporting event, not fully by the state, but it is, so we have all the right to defund that,” Havard stated. “I totally agree with their right to protest and I think it just needs to be done somewhere else. They can do it in the streets, they can do it on Sunday mornings… They can do it wherever they want, but not during our national anthem. I think it’s disgraceful.”
AG Landry agrees, telling The Daily Caller in an email statement Tuesday, “Representative Havard has sparked a great conversation. Why should the taxpayers subsidize with hundreds of millions of dollars a two-billion dollar organization that allows the blatant disregard for our flag and our anthem?”
Landry added, “I call on the Governor and Lieutenant Governor to take a stand and support the Legislature’s examination into his proposal.”
Forbes reported in 2015, that Saints owner Tom Benson could potentially make rake in up to $400 million from state taxpayer dollars through 2025 from the Superdome’s revenue. (RELATED: Louisiana State Rep. Targets New Orleans Saints After National Anthem Protest)