Critical of so-called "paid patriotism," Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake, both Arizona Republicans, issued a 146-page report Wednesday that they said showed the Department of Defense was wrong to pay U.S. sports teams for onfield and other displays of appreciation for service members.
By the Senators' math, the Pentagon misspent $6.8 million since fiscal year 2012 on such programs. One example cited was taxpayers paying $10,000 for an on-field swearing-in ceremony with the New York Mets.
The report acknowledged that military branches pay for advertising and other access to help recruiting. But too often, the report said, teams' seemingly genuine and free display of appreciation was prompted by payment.