https://politico.com/news/california-youth-tackle-football-ban
Gov. Gavin Newsom saved California Democrats from themselves Tuesday night by killing their proposal to ban youth tackle football just as it threatened to become a national GOP talking point about government overreach in an election year.
The ban that aimed to protect young athletes from lifelong brain injuries was also rekindling the ire of parents who have protested over their rights in the liberal state — emotional fights that had previously centered around issues like vaccine and mask mandates and school policies on transgender students.
The Assembly bill would have ended tackling for football players under age 12. For opponents, tampering with something as venerated as football was proof that California is the ultimate nanny state. Passing it was made harder in an election year, when Republicans are itching for examples that Democrats are out of touch with most Americans.
“Football is the number one thing on TV. It’s an economic driver across our economy for advertising dollars and teams and athletes and coaches,” said Douglas Herman, a Democratic strategist in Los Angeles. “This is a legislative overreach that makes California conform to the stereotype that everyone wants to have.”
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