The Washington Post reports that Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash) will be introducing legislation to eliminate the NFL's tax-exempt status due to its refusal to address and/or change the name of the Washington Redskins. According to CBS News, this announcement was made this past Tuesday among several other initiatives aimed at increasing pressure on Redskins owner Dan Snyder.

Senator Cantwell is the former chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, and made her remarks at a press conference called by a coalition of Native American and social justice groups campaigning against the football team's name. CBS News reports that the campaign is known as "Change the Mascot," and is planning to send letters to the other 31 NFL team owners asking them to use their authority in order to end the league's promotion of "a dictionary-defined racial slur."

According to Time, the letters being sent out will read, "The league is promoting this racial slur with the resources of every team, including yours, which makes it a league-wide crisis... If owners like you finally stand on the right side of history and publicly demand action, the NFL call and will change the team's name."

Cantwell stated, "The NFL needs to join the rest of America in the 21^st century. We can no longer tolerate this attitude towards Native Americans... This is not about team tradition; it's about right and wrong," further conveying her stance on the issue.

The support for changing the team name of the Washington Redskins has grown over the past year, as many lawmakers and even President Obama support the cause. Furthermore, broadcasters and publications have agreed not to use the term. However, Dan Snyder has repeatedly said he will not change the team name.

Snyder commented, "I respect the opinions of those who disagree. I want them to know that I do hear them, and I will continue to listen and learn. But we cannot ignore our 81 year history, or the strong feelings of most of our fans as well as Native Americans throughout the country," further conveying his firm stance.

Nonetheless, Cantwell has warned NFL commissioner Roger Goodell that the league is endangering its tax-exempt status by refusing to take action on the team's name. However, this effort will be difficult to turn into reality - while hugely profitable, the NFL is considered a non-profit organization, and efforts to end its tax break haven't gone far.

On the other hand, Cantwell's push does come at an advantageous time. The league and Goodell are under intense fire due to recent domestic violence and child abuse cases, and the current backlash it is suffering may render it more vulnerable to the public opinion.