NJ Lawmakers Call For End To NFL Tax-Exempt Status
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A dozen New Jersey lawmakers gathered at the Meadowlands on Tuesday to say they want to revoke the NFL's tax-exemption status and have Commissioner Roger Goodell step down or be fired over his handling of domestic violence cases.
With the Jets' and Giants' MetLife Stadium in the backdrop, the bipartisan group of politicians, all women, threw their support behind a bill sponsored by U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., that would also pull tax exemptions from other professional sports leagues, WCBS 880's Monica Miller reported.
New Jersey Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, D-Teaneck, said the tax revenue from the NFL -- which she estimated to be around $10 million -- should be spent to help victims of domestic violence.
NJ Lawmakers Call For End To NFL Tax-Exempt Status
The NFL's league office operates as a nonprofit under the federal tax code, although its 32 teams do pay taxes.
State Sen. Jennifer Beck, R-Red Bank, said she believes Goodell's failure to properly handle the issue of domestic violence should cost him his job. She listed the names of several NFL players accused of crimes who received short suspensions from the league or weren't suspended at all.
"It's my opinion that Commissioner Goodell failed over those seven years and should be fired," Beck said.
Assemblywoman Gabriela Mosquera, D-Turnersville, said a "holistic approach" is needed to end domestic violence.
"Not only do we have to empower the women, empower the victims -- because sometimes the victims are men -- but we also have to seek help for the abuser," she said.
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