Florida lawmakers moved forward Tuesday with a plan that would connect playing the national anthem at sports events to state and local dollars.
The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee backed a proposal (SB 1298) that would require Florida professional sports teams receiving government money to play the national anthem before every home game.
When asked by Sen. Victor Torres, D-Kissimmee, if any teams don’t play the anthem, bill sponsor Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, acknowledged he didn’t know of cases in Florida where “The Star-Spangled Banner” wasn’t played before games and other events.
“This is just to make sure, as a proactive approach, that people continue to play it,” Gruters, who doubles as chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, said.
In voting against the bill, Sen. Bobby Powell, D-West Palm Beach, called the proposal an overreach into private enterprise that appears to have little to do with the anthem.
“We’re pushing ourselves out there as a free state. All about freedom. All about limited government. However, you get to pick and choose when you limit government,” Powell said after the meeting. “In this instance, I think it kind of borders on government overreach. It’s the opposite of what I’ve been hearing. And we just need to be consistent in our messaging, especially if it’s being pushed by one particular political party. Just be consistent.”
The proposal, which drew no public comment, mirrors a Texas law, dubbed the Star-Spangled Banner Protection Act, which went into effect in September.
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban in November 2020 instructed his team to stop playing the national anthem before home games, an action that came after a number of players breached NBA rules by kneeling during the anthem in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and to protest against systemic racism in the U.S.
Cuban’s directive went unnoticed for a month, but the resulting uproar from conservative pundits quickly resulted in the Texas law that Gruters seeks to emulate.
Florida’s measure would prohibit government agencies from entering agreements with professional teams without written verification that the anthem would be played.
Gruters’ proposal seeks to ensure the anthem would be played before such things as preseason, regular-season and post-season professional baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer and football games. Also, the requirement would apply to NASCAR and IndyCar events held in venues with at least 75,000 permanent seats and professional golf tournaments.
Failure to play the anthem could lead to teams or venues being required to repay government money they received.
A similar House bill (HB 499), filed by Sen. Tommy Gregory, R-Sarasota, has not been heard in committees as the annual legislative session entered its second week.
–Jim Turner, News Service of Florida
Merrill S Shapiro says
I’m just not sure! Is this the beginning of tyranny? The middle of tyranny? The end of tyranny?
Andy B says
So once again, you socialist liberals don’t like what comes out of the governor’s office? Just pretend old dumb Joe and Ho did it. Go ahead suspend me, waiting….
Timothy Patrick Welch says
Nothing wrong with patriotism, or remembering those that have fallen on the field of battle.
The dude says
Fauxtriotism at the end of a rifle barrel.
Just like in North Korea.
Old Guy says
More needless grandstanding and playing to “the base”. If the national anthem is played it should be respected as a matter of civil decency. Those who continue to talk to one another or otherwise act as if nothing important is occurring are large in number but not as “visible” as those on the playing field who may choose to behave in the same manner or worse. A sporting event is not an official government function. Leagues and teams should make their own decisions about including the anthem in their event. When the national anthem is played I will continue to respect it and ask that others do so as well. If they don’t, I recognize their right to behave differently.
coyote says
We are also looking at proposals in the State legislature (House and Senate) that would restrict the types of ballot initiatives which would be allowed (constitutional amendments).
“Sponsor Mike Beltran, R-Lithia, said the Florida Constitution is a “revered document” that shouldn’t be used to decide policy issues that can be resolved in the Legislature.”
If Beltran’s proposal passes the Legislature, it would go on the November ballot because it would require voter approval. Sen. Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford, has filed an identical proposal (SJR 1412) in the Senate.
Of course, they all say that, ignoring the fact that the citizen-sponsored initiatives are mostly the result of the Legislature FAILING to act upon necessary or citizen-supported issues, forcing the citizenry to act for themselves. Apparently, Big Brother doesn’t like it when we disagree with him/them.
Nancy N. says
So let me get this straight…the GOP’s official position now is that companies have first amendment rights when it comes to deciding whether to pay for abortions or not in their health plans, but not when it comes to deciding whether to play the national anthem at their sports events?
Or maybe their official position is just that people and companies only have rights when the GOP likes those rights?
Denali says
While I believe that that this bill and its Texas counterpart are direct violations of the freedom of speech clause contained in the First Amendment, there are bigger problems. The bill requires any team (or NASCAR / Indycar) or venue to repay any government money they received. This begs the question, why are privately owned professional sports teams receiving any money from the federal or state governments? Government funding of stadiums, while BS in my opinion, has become the norm – but funding of the teams themselves is wrong in so many ways.
After resolving that issue we must ask how much of what kind of government funding must be returned and to what agency is it returned? For example – marathons and bicycle racing have become professional sports – how do we decide how much of the infrastructure funding that paid for the roads and streets they use should be repaid – and again, to what agency is it to be repaid. Personally I would suggest that it be returned to the taxpayers and not retained by any governmental agency as a slush fund.
The we have the discrimination issue. The Indycar series would have to “play or pay” if they return to Homestead or Daytona but the season opener at St. Petersburg would get a pass because they do not have the required permanent seating. Of course the next question is why no seating is mentioned for other professional sports such as baseball, basketball, football, soccer, curling, horse/dog racing or even jai alia, tennis or ping-pong.
Lastly, how should the anthem be played and how many of the participants / attendees need to hear it? Would an orchestra be required, how about John Phillip Sousa? Is a tape recording good enough? Maybe just a small pocket mp3 player?
This thing has more holes in it than a piece of cheesecloth. Just another example of unreasonable over-reach by a party hell bent on the destruction of our democracy.
coyote says
To Nancy :
“Or maybe their official position is just that people and companies only have rights when the GOP likes those rights?”
BINGO !! We have a winner! :)
Let’s see .. you and me – that makes two people who get it … any more?
Lynnette Perry says
I am not liberal, a dem. or a socialist. But I am a veteran and I took an oath to.protect our freedoms and our Constitution. I am fine if it is played. I do feel it is tge right of each person to song along or choose not to. People have their own minds and rights. No one has rights to tell us when to speak or sing. They don’t have legal rights to tell us not to. This is a freedom we have.
snapperhead says
No big deal for the sports teams. Just appeal it to the Leon County Circuit Judge Layne Smith. Since the money would have already been spent he’ll dismiss the case.
Denali says
My Lord man, have you no decency? Calling people names is so childish. Is this the only way you can communicate? In order to prove yourself to be even partially credible would be to call the former first couple what they are known to be; a liar and a porn star. But since you have consumed the kool aide, we cannot expect an honest word to pass your lips.
By the way, there is nothing in this article to link it to the Governor’s office – as of this writing it is strictly a legislative initiative.
Denali says
Likewise, nothing is wrong with complying with the Constitution. SCOUTS held several years ago that burning the flag is a First Amendment right. Following the course of that ruling, sitting or kneeling during the playing of the national anthem would also be a protected right. Intimidation by the government is coercion no matter how you cut it.
Now if someone’s civil rights were being harmed by a venue not playing the national anthem, I would be the first in line to take away any federal funding. However, neither you nor I have the right to demand any action prior to a sports event, regardless of the setting.
Deborah Coffey says
Florida is now fully under Fascist rule. The fascist governor has his own militia. He’s got his own election police. Vigilantes can drive their cars into protestors if they believe protestors are misbehaving. Mask mandates are forbidden in schools…or else. Voting rules and districts have been changed to protect the governor’s Republican legislators and to diminish votes for Democratic legislators (one doubts the votes will be counted at all). CRT forbidden in schools when it doesn’t even exist in schools. Schools will teach patriotism (the fascist governor’s way) or else. We could write a long, long list here. Today is just the latest FAKE FREEDOM: “You WILL play the national anthem, or else.”