Former Republican aide Tim Miller tore into Louisiana Republicans on Monday over a massive planned sports investment, at taxpayer expense, that seems tailor-made to put money in the pockets of the Saudi royal family.
This follows a report by the Louisiana Illuminator that reveals the GOP-controlled legislature, at the behest of Gov. Jeff Landry, is planning to spend $7 million to set up a LIV Golf tournament in New Orleans.
The LIV Golf League, an upstart rival to the long-established PGA Tour which is now seeking to merge the two together, is financed by the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia.
"The Louisiana Senate Finance Committee inserted the golf tournament spending into the proposed $49 billion state operating budget Sunday. Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, said the Louisiana Economic Development agency, overseen by Gov. Jeff Landry, requested the money," said the report.
The breakdown of the money, per the report, is that "at least $2 million would be spent to upgrade the Bayou Oaks golf course at New Orleans City Park, where the tournament would be held," with the remainder being paid to LIV Golf itself as a hosting fee.
Henry touted the measure as a good investment, saying “it’ll drive significant economic activity at a time when the city is usually pretty slow.”
But Miller, posting on X, had a different take on the matter.
"Crazy," he wrote. "Paying team owners to build a stadium with taxpayer dollars one thing. Using that money to bribe oil despots into hosting a b-list golf tournament 1 weekend a year is insane."
President Donald Trump, a close ally of Landry, has done his utmost to facilitate the LIV/PGA merger through his official powers, in a deal that has stirred controversy for potentially enriching his own family.