Heres the committee that would take up the Senate bill

[mrhat187]

http://banking.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Information.Membership

If one of those people is from your state you need get in touch with them and let them know how you feel. And yes this will require more than just an email phone call is best. A few phone calls is tip top. If you kill the bill in committee its done, or atleast stall for time only 6 weeks of session left. Given they take august off.

[AggieYank]

Is it a big red flag that there are 2 more republicans than democrats?

[Jussurreal]

I'm an eternal pessimist anyway, but even so I don't see how on earth this will not pass this year. Even the LIBERAL democrats are backing this. I don't see that we have a chance..........

[IronDragon1]

[ QUOTE ]
Is it a big red flag that there are 2 more republicans than democrats?

[/ QUOTE ]

Not really.

This really shouldn't be viewed as a democrat/republican issue. Sure Republicans are more inclined to support this kind of legislation but today's vote shows that these types of proposals have a fair amount of support from both sides of the aisle.

[TehPokarKing]

It's not really a huge red flag, Republicans are in the majority and will, thus, have a majority on each Committee (the big ones Finance, Approps, Judiciary, etc. in particular)

It's probably fortunate that the bill isn't going to Judiciary, as Goodlatte's bill probably would, because Senator Kyl and a number of other social conservatives are on there. We'll see what happens, I think if it's going to move before the summer recess it'll be soon.

TPK

[Nate tha\\\' Great]

[ QUOTE ]
Is it a big red flag that there are 2 more republicans than democrats?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd think that's pretty normal when the GOP controls the floor.

It's a fairly conservative group of Senators, that much is for sure. Although, the chairman, Richard Shelby, was also the chair when Kyl tried to introduce similar legislation in 2003, and marked the bill up so heavily that its passage became impossible.

[skaboomizzy]

Argh. The only one from FL on this committee is that douchebag Mel Martinez. I'll probably call his office anyway but I doubt it'll do much.

[renodoc]

[ QUOTE ]
Argh. The only one from FL on this committee is that douchebag Mel Martinez. I'll probably call his office anyway but I doubt it'll do much.

[/ QUOTE ]

You would expect to have both of your senators on a committee???

And the 10-8 R-D majority will be found on every committee.

I'm glad this bill has enlightened some folks. Perhaps 2+2 voter registration is up also.

[Leavenfish]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm an eternal pessimist anyway, but even so I don't see how on earth this will not pass this year. Even the LIBERAL democrats are backing this. I don't see that we have a chance..........

[/ QUOTE ]

Ouch. It goes thru to a vote. The ONLY way to head this off is thru amendments to the legislation.

I guess I'll be moving from TN to a state where a casino is close by...

---Leavenfish

[Leavenfish]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Is it a big red flag that there are 2 more republicans than democrats?

[/ QUOTE ]

Not really.

This really shouldn't be viewed as a democrat/republican issue. Sure Republicans are more inclined to support this kind of legislation but today's vote shows that these types of proposals have a fair amount of support from both sides of the aisle.

[/ QUOTE ]

What should concern everyone is that we are approaching election time. Politicians will vote for anything they think will buy them a few votes.

I only hope Mason has socked away some cash because the poker boom is about to go bust.

---Leavenfish

[jwlam]

[ QUOTE ]


I only hope Mason has socked away some cash because the poker boom is about to go bust.

---Leavenfish

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, because absolutely no one made money before Chris Moneymaker's win in 2003 with poker.

[Leavenfish]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]


I only hope Mason has socked away some cash because the poker boom is about to go bust.

---Leavenfish

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, because absolutely no one made money before Chris Moneymaker's win in 2003 with poker.

[/ QUOTE ]

No, because books sales were not were they were before then! And remember, online poker was 'legal' then...

---Leavenfish

[bunny fufu]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Is it a big red flag that there are 2 more republicans than democrats?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd think that's pretty normal when the GOP controls the floor.

It's a fairly conservative group of Senators, that much is for sure. Although, the chairman, Richard Shelby, was also the chair when Kyl tried to introduce similar legislation in 2003, and marked the bill up so heavily that its passage became impossible.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ironically, I occasionally play in a home game with Shelby's kid, but I don't think anything will make Senator Party-Switcher go against the far right.

[Ignignokt]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm an eternal pessimist anyway, but even so I don't see how on earth this will not pass this year. Even the LIBERAL democrats are backing this.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not MY liberal democrat... (http://www.house.gov/mcdermott/)

[Cumulonimbus]

I would call my senator but his name is Mike Crapo and I know I couldn't hold my laughter through the entire conversation..

[skaboomizzy]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Argh. The only one from FL on this committee is that douchebag Mel Martinez. I'll probably call his office anyway but I doubt it'll do much.

[/ QUOTE ]

You would expect to have both of your senators on a committee???

And the 10-8 R-D majority will be found on every committee.

I'm glad this bill has enlightened some folks. Perhaps 2+2 voter registration is up also.

[/ QUOTE ]

No, I didn't expect both of them. I was hoping for Bill Nelson.

[MEbenhoe]

you guys need to stop being such fricking pessimists and take the active approach. We really need people from Alabama to hit up Shelby like crazy. He is the most important person in all this. If he gets a large influx of people opposed to this bill, especially when he's shot it down in the past apparently, it makes it seem likely he would try to shoot it down again. Get going people and stop sulking.

[crookdimwit]

White House has said it would sign the bill if approved by the Senate. Nice job, GOP fans...

[MEbenhoe]

[ QUOTE ]
White House has said it would sign the bill if approved by the Senate. Nice job, GOP fans...

[/ QUOTE ]

again [censored] like this is useless. there are republicans and democrats on both sides of this thing. The goal is to push those in opposition to take a strong stance against it, and to get those who are for it to question it.

[mrhat187]

Thats great to say.....but far more democrates were against this than republicans /images/graemlins/wink.gif.

[Nate tha\\\' Great]

[ QUOTE ]
you guys need to stop being such fricking pessimists and take the active approach. We really need people from Alabama to hit up Shelby like crazy. He is the most important person in all this. If he gets a large influx of people opposed to this bill, especially when he's shot it down in the past apparently, it makes it seem likely he would try to shoot it down again. Get going people and stop sulking.

[/ QUOTE ]

To clarify, Shelby is very conservative on social issues, though also somewhat independent-minded. He's definitely an opponent of internet gambling on moral grounds and that isn't going to change.

According to this study (http://www.americangaming.org/assets/files/studies/wpaper_internet_0531.pdf), the mark-ups that got the previous bill killed was the removal of certain states' rights provisions, and the insertion of substitute langauge that would have granted off-track betting facilities and Indian casinos with online gambling rights. These are not especially likely to be issues this time around if the Senate version of the legislation mirrors the House version, as the langauge on these issues has been crafted more carefully.

On the other hand, from what I can gather the Banking Committee tends to operate very slowly, and already has a lot on its docket. Frankly, if I were writing Shelby, the point I might emphasize most strongly is that other issues are more important to our country and deserve the higher legislative priority.

[Bilgefisher]

I would rather let people be extremely concerned about this bill, people do very drastic things when backed into a corner.

[Jay Cohen]

As far as I know the Goodlatte bill was merged into the Leach bill so this may need to go to the Judiciary Committee as well.

On a negative note, I thought I recently read somewhere that Shelby had said he would not have his committee seek jurisdiction on this bill so it could get to the floor sooner. I am still searching for the article.

[IronDragon1]

Here (http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jun-30-Fri-2006/business/8248138.html)

[Jay Cohen]

Thanks

"To expedite Senate approval, Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., who is chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, has agreed to allow an Internet gambling ban to advance to the Senate floor without a committee hearing, sources said."

[mrhat187]

Good catch about shelby, that's really not a good sign then if it doesn't even go to committee it gains time which is bad.

[CrashPat]

I sent a letter to my senator, Mike Enzi, to try to gain his support. I doubt it will make a difference, but at least I tried.

[Benjamin]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks

"To expedite Senate approval, Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., who is chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, has agreed to allow an Internet gambling ban to advance to the Senate floor without a committee hearing, sources said."

[/ QUOTE ]

Crap! This is horrible news. /images/graemlins/frown.gif

With this in mind, do the more knowlegeable people here about Congressional affairs still think that passing the Senate is unlikely?

Isn't that a big hurdle that they don't have to clear, making passage more likely?

B.

[jively]

Democrat Senator Schumer from NY has an article (http://schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/pressroom/press_releases/2005/PR41537.Online%20Gambling.032005.html) on his web site from 2005 saying Internet gambling should be banned. /images/graemlins/frown.gif

“Unless we take the necessary steps to eliminate online gambling, more and more of America's young people will be return from college holding a receipt of outstanding debt, instead of a diploma,” said Schumer

-Tom

[Greg Miller]

[ QUOTE ]
Is it a big red flag that there are 2 more republicans than democrats?

[/ QUOTE ]

Nah, religious nuts (typically Republicans) like to ban gambling, but old-school fascists (typically Democrats) like to regulate corporations and people with money, and this bill will generate excitement from both groups. It's a shame the committee isn't overrun with libertarians. Then we'd be all set.

[SoftcoreRevolt]

[ QUOTE ]
you guys need to stop being such fricking pessimists and take the active approach. We really need people from Alabama to hit up Shelby like crazy. He is the most important person in all this. If he gets a large influx of people opposed to this bill, especially when he's shot it down in the past apparently, it makes it seem likely he would try to shoot it down again. Get going people and stop sulking.

[/ QUOTE ]

Listen to this man. I'm going to hit up Dodd and get some people I know in Alabama to hit up Shelby. The Senate is far more pragmatic than the House, and far less in need of sucking up to voters in an election year by passing these sort of bills. Show them there's numbers and it will make it that much easier for the Senate to tell the House it continues to be its larger more retarded brother.

[poker-penguin]

[ QUOTE ]

“Unless we take the necessary steps to eliminate online gambling, more and more of America's young people will be return from college holding a receipt of outstanding debt, instead of a diploma,” said Schumer

[/ QUOTE ]

Someone point out the stupidity of blaming online gambling for people students being in debt rather than massive tuition expenses and lack of government support.

It won't change his mind because, like almost all politicians he is a self-serving hypocritical moron, but at least you'll feel good about having done something.

<----- Not an American