This Isn't Free-Market Capitalism in Action

From today's NYT online (free registration required):

Bill Would Raise Franchise Value of Sports Teams

By DUFF WILSON

Owners of professional sports teams stand to gain tens of millions of dollars in the values of their franchises because of a single sentence buried deep in a sprawling piece of export-tax legislation now before Congress.

The benefit to sports franchises is contained in a small part of an enormous bill introduced originally to settle a trade dispute with the European Union. But the legislation has since become laden with add-ons for interests ranging from tobacco farmers to Oldsmobile dealers....

Another good argument for replacing the income tax with a national sales tax.