Athletes lobby Congress for fitness funding

By FREDERIC J. FROMMER

WASHINGTON (AP) — Should soccer cleats and baseball gloves be tax deductible? More than a dozen current and former athletes made that pitch to members of Congress Wednesday, pressing for passage of legislation they say would help stem obesity in this country.

The athletes, from nine-time Ultimate Fighting champion Matt Hughes to former NFL star Herschel Walker, lobbied members of Congress as part of a Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association initiative on Wednesday. In addition to the tax legislation, they also pushed for more funding for a federal grant program for physical education classes and after-school programs in schools.

"I'm here as a professional athlete, and the biggest reason I'm here is I'm the father of three kids," said Hughes, 35. He decried the country's sedentary habits, adding "Our lifestyle is just terrible."

Rep. Ron Kind, D-Wis., plans to introduce legislation that would make exercise expenses — from sports equipment to gym membership — tax deductible medical expenses.

"Regular physical activity remains the best preventive medicine we can prescribe," said Kind, a member of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee. "This bill will give people the incentive they need to sign up for that exercise class, join an intramural sports team, or join a gym."