State Representative Valarie Hodges, R-Denham Springs, has sent a formal request for the Saints’ budget to be included on the agenda for the next meeting of the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget (JLCB). The request was made to State Representative Cameron Henry, Vice Chairman of the JLCB. The request by Rep. Hodges, who is also a member of the JLCB, comes after several NFL players, including Saints players, made the decision to sit in protest of the national anthem. With Louisiana Public funds, as well as tax breaks and incentives being given to the Saints, their allocated budget comes into question.
Rep. Hodges said, “I am for First Amendment rights, but there is a time and a place to protest. We will not tolerate blatant disregard for the flag and the lives of so many men and women who have died defending our country. I have to wonder, if they will not pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, who is their allegiance to?”
The next meeting of the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget will be held at the end of October, and the final agenda has not yet been released.
