Something GOP doesn't want to cut: Funding for NASCAR

[underpants]

Rep. Betty McCollum says her work could save American taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. But Defense Department officials and lawmakers from NASCAR country say the sponsorships help military recruitment, and that the tax breaks could save jobs in the struggling economy.

She plans to file legislation to prohibit Pentagon sponsorships of dragsters, Indy cars, stock cars and motorcycle racing, affecting just about every level of motorsports.

McCollum said she'll file legislation to repeal the tax benefit. "It's an earmark," she said.

North Carolina Republican Rep. Patrick McHenry disagrees. His Charlotte-area district is home to half the NASCAR teams. His Twitter avatar last week was the No. 3 logo in memory of legendary driver Dale Earnhardt, who was killed in a crash at the Daytona 500 in 2001.

"She may believe that none of her constituents watch NASCAR, but they do," McHenry said this week. "This shows that she is on the warpath against NASCAR. This is more about her disdain for NASCAR than it really is about saving taxpayers' money."

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/02/25/109477/something-gop-doesnt-want-to-cut.html#ixzz1F5hgmLfD

[tanyev]

1. Rep. McHenry may believe that none of his constituents listen to NPR or watch PBS, but they do.

What is his position on cutting funding to them? Hmmm?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. Well, watching machinery go around in circles is very..educational?

[fishwax]

3. I can see where getting rid of the tax breaks makes sense

I don't see how prohibiting the sponsorship of motorsports will save any money, though, since simply prohibiting one outlet of advertising or recruiting spending doesn't really change the bottom line of advertising/recruiting spending. I haven't seen any convincing explanation for why advertising through NASCAR is more wasteful than advertising through other sports or other means.

[LiberalFighter]

4. I don't understand how it can be a tax break for a unit of the government.