The $3.4 Million Bill That Died Because Louisiana Lawmakers Put Football First

Okay, you ready for this? Because what's happening down in Louisiana, with state lawmakers and college football, is a wild ride of priorities that'll make your head spin. We're talking about serious cash on the line, and frankly, it feels like the state is putting the gridiron way ahead of its own kids. While we're usually focused on what's happening on the field, this is one off-the-field story that's got some real consequences.

Football's "Sacred Cow" Gets a Pass While Kids Wait

Here's the deal: Louisiana has been pouring millions into making LSU a football powerhouse. But some lawmakers are asking, "Is this too much?" During a recent legislative session, the Louisiana House straight-up killed a bill that would've given more money to early childhood education programs. Instead? That cash is now going to college sports programs. State Sen. Beth Mizell, a Republican from Franklinton, called college football a "sacred cow" saying, "You can't touch it. You can't lessen what we put into it." Think about that for a second. Mizell sponsored Senate Bill 135, which tried to tweak how sports gambling tax revenue is divided up. Right now, 25% goes to early childhood education, and another 25% goes to a fund for college athletics, known as the SPORT fund. That SPORT fund, by the way, has NO cap on how much it can collect, while the early childhood education fund is capped at $20 million. SB135 wanted to flip that cap, letting the education fund keep collecting beyond $20 million. The kicker? This change would've generated an extra $3.4 million annually for the childcare fund, helping families pay for early education programs. It's about getting parents to work and improving kids' futures, something even the business lobby backs! But nope, the bill passed

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the Senate easily, only to die in the House when literally no one would even make a motion to advance it. Talk about a silent kill!

Big Money, Little Transparency

So, why the resistance? Some lawmakers, like State Rep. Dixon McMakin, who's also the PA announcer at Tiger Stadium, argue that strong athletics bring visitors and economic impact to the state. He calls college sports programs "economic engines." Yeah, we get it, winning teams can draw a crowd. But at what cost? Mizell, who loves football herself, still wants single moms in her district to have access to childcare. She said, "I thought we were ready to acknowledge that OK, maybe we've given football enough money." And get this: former LSU football coach Brian Kelly received a $54 million buyout when he was ousted. His replacement, Lane Kiffin, now pulls in an annual salary of $13 million, making him one of college football's three highest-paid coaches. They say most of that sports money comes from programs themselves or donors, with one donor reportedly covering most of Kelly's buyout. Still, the state's priorities are looking pretty clear. And the hits keep coming. A week after SB135 died, another sports-related bill, House Bill 608, stirred things up. This one, meant to protect student athletes, actually exempts records detailing how colleges dish out "revenue sharing" funds to individual sports and athletes from public view. That's money right out of athletic department budgets. It flew through the House with only four no votes. What are they trying to hide? It’s pretty wild to see lawmakers make these kinds of moves. With crucial funding for kids getting sidelined and transparency taking a backseat, you have to wonder what's next. Will the state continue to prioritize the "economic engine" of college football over the very real needs of its citizens? We’ll be watching.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.