House weighs military sports sponsorships

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Congress is wrapped around the axle over the military spending millions of dollars to sponsor NASCAR cars and other sports in a bid to boost recruiting.

Republican Rep. Jack Kingston of Georgia and Democratic Rep. Betty McCollum of Minnesota are pushing an amendment to cut $72.3 million from a $608 billion defense spending bill for military sponsorships. The House began debating the bill Wednesday. The two argue that in a time of growing deficits the money could be better spent elsewhere.

The measure would target money the National Guard uses to sponsor Dale Earnhardt Jr. in NASCAR, the Marine Corps spends on Ultimate Fighting Championship and other sponsorships ranging from fishing to hot rod racing.

Yet the two lawmakers are facing resistance from their colleagues and sports leagues.