**Title:** Rep. Baumgartner Critiques Big Ten Commissioner Amid SCORE Act Delay
**Meta Description:** Rep. Michael Baumgartner criticizes Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti after the SCORE Act vote is postponed, highlighting issues in college sports regulation.
**URL Slug:** rep-baumgartner-criticizes-big-ten-commissioner-score-act
**Headline:** Rep. Michael Baumgartner Slams Big Ten Commissioner Following SCORE Act Vote Delay
Rep. Michael Baumgartner, a Republican from Washington, expressed strong criticism of Big Ten Conference Commissioner Tony Petitti on Wednesday after the House of Representatives postponed a vote on the SCORE Act. This legislation aims to regulate name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals in collegiate athletics. Although the bill successfully passed a procedural vote to reach the House floor, the final vote was unexpectedly canceled just two hours before it was scheduled.
Baumgartner, who opposes the SCORE Act, took to social media platform X to voice his concerns. He argued that the bill fails to ensure equitable treatment for athletes across all sports, does not prohibit private equity involvement in college athletics, and lacks measures to cap coaching salaries. Furthermore, he criticized the bill for not addressing the chaotic nature of NIL agreements and the transfer portal, nor for halting the ongoing realignment of college sports. He emphasized that the legislation does not appoint the right individuals to make decisions that would significantly impact the college sports landscape.
“If the Commissioner of the Big Ten would spend less money trying to buy votes with D.C. lobbyists and make more of an effort to stop being a bullying jacka–, then Congress could get on with passing some reasonable legislation to fix college sports,” Baumgartner stated. He echoed sentiments from Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, asserting that the SCORE Act “isn’t ready for prime time.”
Baumgartner suggested that Congress should establish a select committee on college sports to address the various legitimate issues raised, noting that the current jurisdiction is divided among four committees, which hampers the ability to create a cohesive bipartisan solution. He also mentioned that the involvement of the President may be necessary, referencing historical precedents where presidential intervention helped resolve issues in college football.
The White House expressed support for the SCORE Act earlier this week, but several Republicans, including Roy, Byron Donalds of Florida, and Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, voted alongside Democrats to prevent the act from advancing.
The SCORE Act aims to provide the NCAA with a limited antitrust exemption to protect it from potential lawsuits regarding eligibility rules and prohibits athletes from being classified as employees of their schools. Additionally, it restricts schools from using student fees to fund NIL payments. Republicans may attempt to bring the act to a vote as early as Thursday.
**FAQ Section:**
**Q: What is the SCORE Act?**
A: The SCORE Act is legislation aimed at regulating name, image, and likeness deals in collegiate athletics, providing the NCAA with limited antitrust protections and prohibiting athletes from being classified as employees of their schools.
