House Republicans were forced on Wednesday to cancel an upcoming vote on the SCORE Act, a controversial piece of legislation backed by President Donald Trump that would give a sweetheart deal to college sports leagues at the expense of players.
According to Punchbowl News’ Jake Sherman, Republicans lacked the votes on the legislation, as Democrats were unifying against it, and a handful of conservative hardliners were also skeptical, with Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) already confirmed as against it.
Republicans may reschedule a vote as soon as tomorrow.
The bill would give antitrust protections to the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA), pre-empting state regulations on the issue, and clarify nationwide that student athletes are not employees, precluding many labor rights and limiting their ability to profit off their name, image, and likeness.
A number of Democrats co-sponsored the bill, but opposition from the Democratic side is growing.
On Wednesday, the Congressional Black Caucus issued a statement in opposition to the bill.
“We can all agree that college athletes need stronger protections. Unfortunately, the SCORE Act doesn’t provide them,” said the group. “It would permanently strip college athletes of labor and employment rights, including the right to unionize; prevent them from challenging harmful or anticompetitive conduct; and grant the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and conferences sweeping immunity when their actions jeopardize athletes’ education, health, safety, or financial well-being.”
A number of hard-right lawmakers have gripes with the bill, too.
“This is not supposed to be a market, not in that classic sense,” Roy said of his opposition. “This is not supposed to be NFL-lite, but that is how we’re treating it.”
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