to abolish the special tax exemption that the nfl enjoys and that all other professional sports leagues enjoy. i think that s fair for folks on main street and folks in the middle class. how much do you think this reflects colleagues within your side of the caucus there in the house, and i do note that this particular legislation, isn t the the same one jason chaffetz proposed but since he left, you re picking up the ball? that s correct. the pro sports act was sponsored by jason chaffetz. it had been orphaned on his departure from congress and it s an orphan no more. there s no rational reason why league offices of professional sports leagues that collectively generate about $2 billion in revenue should get a special tax benefit. i think it s in line with the overall objectives of the tax reform that the president wants to see and that the congress wants to see. we want a tax system that doesn t pick winners and losers, that has lower fair flat rates
league in the entire world. the nfl s commissioner, roger goodell, took home $44 million in 2012. why in the world are these leagues considered non-profits? in september, oklahoma s republican senator, tom coburn, asked just that question. coburn introduced the pro sports act, which would strip professional sports leagues of their federal tax exemption if they earn more than $10 million. the nfl obviously makes much more than that, but to be clear, the organization does point out that only the league office is tax exempt. 392 member teams do pay taxes on their income. but the chances that coburn s bill will pass are slim to none. if you want to know just how powerful these legs are, listen to this. this week, the minneapolis star tribune published what it said was a confidential list of demands provided by sources, demands that the city had to