Plain Dealer: Ohio legislators prep for Super Bowl with drive for Pro Football Hall of Fame coins

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By Sabrina Easton

Just as teams that fall short of the championship give it another shot the following year, legislative plans that fall short of the goal line get a new chance to become law at the start of every Congress.

A group of Ohio legislators who want to raise money for Canton's Pro Football Hall of Fame by having the U.S. Mint issue commemorative coins announced Wednesday they're renewing their drive.

Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, Rep. Jim Renacci of Wadsworth and Rep. Bob Gibbs of Holmes County - all Republicans - were among a bipartisan group of Congress members who re-introduced legislation that would issue the collectibles in time for the 100th anniversary of the National Football League's Sept. 17, 1920 founding in downtown Canton.

The bill would let the Treasury Department issue up to 50,000 $5 gold coins, 400,000 $1 silver coins, and 750,000 half dollars that would be sold to collectors.

Sales proceeds would pay to mint the coins, so the bill wouldn't cost taxpayers anything. Remaining revenue would help the Pro Football Hall of Fame acquire more football artifacts and continue its outreach efforts.

The measure passed the House of Representatives in 2012, but stalled in the U.S. Senate. Neither body took action on it during the 2013-2014 legislative session.

"This Sunday, one day after the Hall of Fame elects a new class of enshrinees, more than 100 million Americans are expected to tune in to watch the Seattle Seahawks face the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX," said a joint statement from Portman and Renacci. "Football is not just a favorite pastime of millions of Americans; it is part of our country's heritage."

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