GOP House Rep Unveils Plan to Strip MLB of Federal Antitrust Protections After They Move the All-Star Game Out of Atlanta Over Recent Election Reform Bill

Major League Baseball announced today that it is moving the 2021 All-Star Game out of Atlanta in response to a new Georgia election reform bill that was passed by the GOP-led government in the state.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed the sweeping bill yesterday, triggering outrage from corporations and left-leaning groups, who claim that it disproportionately hurts minority voters.

There are, however, no direct restrictions on minority voters ability to cast their ballots lawfully in an election as the legislation seeks to provide more security by adding new identification requirements to absentee voting, limits ballot drop boxes, and prohibits offering food or water to voters in line, among other provisions.

Not long after MLB announced their move, U.S. House Rep Jeff Duncan (R-SC) unveiled a plan of his home to retaliate against them.

In a tweet, Duncan said, “In light of @MLB‘s stance to undermine election integrity laws, I have instructed my staff to begin drafting legislation to remove Major League Baseball’s federal antitrust exception.”

“An overwhelming bipartisan majority of Americans support requiring an ID to vote, and any organization that abuses its power to oppose secure elections deserves increased scrutiny under the law,” Duncan added.

An overwhelming bipartisan majority of Americans support requiring an ID to vote, and any organization that abuses its power to oppose secure elections deserves increased scrutiny under the law.

— Rep. Jeff Duncan (@RepJeffDuncan) April 2, 2021

Kemp, who drew the ire of former President Donald Trump after the election, stood firm on his decision to sign the legislation.

“I’m glad to deal with it. If they want to have a debate about the merits and the facts of the bill, then we should do that,” Kemp said, referencing the backlash from business leaders in Georgia and the U.S. over the voting law.

After a number of CEO’s spoke out against it, Kemp said, “I would encourage these CEOs to look at other states that they’re doing business in and compare what the real facts are to Georgia.”