Congress, the NFL, and a lack of priorities

We’re at a point where our country is facing many challenges: The remnants of an economic crisis, wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, health-care reform, cap-and-trade legislation, and much more. There’s no doubt that Congress has a full plate. That’s why it’s shocking to find out that they wasted time holding a hearing to discuss professional football.

I enjoy watching football, and it’s certainly a big business, but should Congress be wasting its time discussing the incidence of head injuries in the league? If there is some occupational hazard in the league, shouldn’t that be investigated by OSHA? They come to my place of employment periodically to evaluate safety, why not handle issues with professional sports?

The only useful thing to arise from today’s hearing was Maxine Water’s threat to lift the NFL’s anti-trust exemption. That’s a great idea, but if I remember correctly, only MLB has a full antitrust exemption, which Congress should end. They’re businesses and should be treated as any other businesses. Plus, maybe it will remove an excuse for Congress to take a day off from work to tinker with a child’s game.