Professional sports teams in Texas will be required to play the national anthem before sporting events or risk losing millions of dollars in state and local tax subsidies, under a bill now headed to Gov. Greg Abbott for his expected approval.
The bill is a direct reaction to the Dallas Mavericks, who decided not to play “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the start of the season for 13 days, in what team owner Mark Cuban called an experiment. The NBA later issued a statement requiring the anthem to be played before all games.
Still, that was not enough for Republican leaders in the Texas Legislature like Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who slammed Cuban and the team.
“Texans are tired of sports teams that pander, insulting our national anthem and the men and women who died fighting for our flag,” Patrick said after the Senate passed the legislation, Senate Bill 4, in early April. “The passage of SB 4 will ensure Texans can count on hearing ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ at major sports events throughout the state that are played in venues that taxpayers support.”
The House on Tuesday finally joined the Senate in passing the bill, 110-34, assuring it will head to Abbott for his approval.
Many Democrats in the Texas House blasted the bill, saying Republicans who are frequently worried about too much government intervention are using their power to compel private businesses to do their bidding.
“I don’t even understand why we would feel the need to force someone into singing any song,” said Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas.
State Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houston, took it a step further during the debate, saying the bill is likely unconstitutional because of First Amendment protections that guarantee freedom of speech and expression. He said the state cannot force people to say anything, and that is essentially was SB 4 does.
“Once again, we’re carrying legislation that is openly and aggressively unconstitutional,” Wu said.
State Rep. Dustin Burrows, a Lubbock Republican who is the lead sponsor of the bill in the House, said no constitutional rights will be infringed upon. He said sports teams could still opt to not play the anthem.
“It’s very simple: If they do not want to play the national anthem, they don’t have to take tax dollars,” Burrows said.
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The bill is a direct reaction to the Dallas Mavericks, who decided not to play “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the start of the season for 13 days, in what team owner Mark Cuban called an experiment. The NBA later issued a statement requiring the anthem to be played before all games.
Still, that was not enough for Republican leaders in the Texas Legislature like Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who slammed Cuban and the team.
“Texans are tired of sports teams that pander, insulting our national anthem and the men and women who died fighting for our flag,” Patrick said after the Senate passed the legislation, Senate Bill 4, in early April. “The passage of SB 4 will ensure Texans can count on hearing ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ at major sports events throughout the state that are played in venues that taxpayers support.”
The House on Tuesday finally joined the Senate in passing the bill, 110-34, assuring it will head to Abbott for his approval.
Many Democrats in the Texas House blasted the bill, saying Republicans who are frequently worried about too much government intervention are using their power to compel private businesses to do their bidding.
“I don’t even understand why we would feel the need to force someone into singing any song,” said Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas.
State Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houston, took it a step further during the debate, saying the bill is likely unconstitutional because of First Amendment protections that guarantee freedom of speech and expression. He said the state cannot force people to say anything, and that is essentially was SB 4 does.
“Once again, we’re carrying legislation that is openly and aggressively unconstitutional,” Wu said.
State Rep. Dustin Burrows, a Lubbock Republican who is the lead sponsor of the bill in the House, said no constitutional rights will be infringed upon. He said sports teams could still opt to not play the anthem.
“It’s very simple: If they do not want to play the national anthem, they don’t have to take tax dollars,” Burrows said.
Texas lawmakers pass bill to punish pro sports teams that skip pregame national anthem
Professional sports teams in Texas will be required to play the national anthem before...
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