MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota Congresswoman Betty McCollum says there will always be a need for military recruitment, but the government doesn't need to spend $80 million in defense dollars on sports sponsorships.
In an interview on WCCO radio Thursday, McCollum said military recruiters need to be present at events such as NASCAR races, but that "out of the sky amounts of money" shouldn't be spent on sponsorships.
Republican Rep. Jackson Kingston, of Georgia, helped push an amendment through the House Appropriations Committee last week that would remove the money. That's drawn criticism from some NASCAR fans.
McCollum lost a House vote a year ago to end military sponsorships of NASCAR, professional wrestling and fishing. Even with Kingston's help, the proposed amendment to the $608 billion defense budget still faces an uphill battle.
Associated Press