Senators For and Against Online Poker (first cut) [Archive]

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TheEngineer

11-12-2007, 10:49 PM

Senators For and Against Online Poker

I started assembling a Senate guide. We still don't have a lot of information, so please share it as it comes along, but I figured I'd get what we knew together:

Key
A: voted against Sen. Kyl's S 474, which passed the Senate 90-10 (not a great criterion for an A, but it's all I have for this first cut)
?: unknown
F: cosponsored anti-Internet gaming legislation (S474, S 692, S627, S 3006) or S 972 (eliminated federal tax deductions for gambling losses!!!) and/or made strong public statements against Internet gaming
F-: leaders of efforts against us...zealots

A (7 total, 4 D and 3 R):

Biden, Joseph R., Jr. [D-DE], Craig, Larry E. [R-ID], Domenici, Pete V. [R-NM], Feingold, Russell D. [D-WI], Harkin, Tom [D-IA], Inouye, Daniel K. [D-HI], Stevens, Ted [R-AK]

F (13 total, 1 ID, 2D, and 10 R):

Allard, Wayne [R-CO], Bond, Christopher S. [R-MO], Bunning, Jim [R-KY], Cornyn, John [R-TX], Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY], Grassley, Chuck [R-IA], Inhofe, James M. [R-OK], Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT], Lott, Trent [R-MS], Reed, Jack [D-RI], Reid, Harry [D-NV], Shelby, Richard C. [R-AL], Voinovich, George V. [R-OH]

F- (4 total, 2 D and 2 R):

Brownback, Sam [R-KS], Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA], Johnson, Tim [D-SD], and Kyl, Jon [R-AZ]

? (76 total, 41 D, 1 I, and 34 R):

Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI], Alexander, Lamar [R-TN], Barrasso, John [R-WY], Baucus, Max [D-MT], Bayh, Evan [D-IN], Bennett, Robert F. [R-UT], Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM], Boxer, Barbara [D-CA], Brown, Sherrod [D-OH], Burr, Richard [R-NC], Byrd, Robert C. [D-WV], Cantwell, Maria [D-WA], Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD], Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE], Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA], Chambliss, Saxby [R-GA], Clinton, Hillary Rodham [D-NY], Coburn, Tom [R-OK], Cochran, Thad [R-MS], Coleman, Norm [R-MN], Collins, Susan M. [R-ME], Conrad, Kent [D-ND], Corker, Bob [R-TN], Crapo, Mike [R-ID], DeMint, Jim [R-SC], Dodd, Christopher J. [D-CT], Dole, Elizabeth [R-NC], Dorgan, Byron L. [D-ND], Durbin, Richard [D-IL], Ensign, John [R-NV], Graham, Lindsey [R-SC], Gregg, Judd [R-NH], Hagel, Chuck [R-NE], Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT], Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX], Isakson, Johnny [R-GA], Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA], Kerry, John F. [D-MA], Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN], Kohl, Herb [D-WI], Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA], Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ], Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT], Levin, Carl [D-MI], Lincoln, Blanche L. [D-AR], Lugar, Richard G. [R-IN], Martinez, Mel [R-FL], McCain, John [R-AZ], McCaskill, Claire [D-MO], McConnell, Mitch [R-KY], Menendez, Robert [D-NJ], Mikulski, Barbara A. [D-MD], Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK], Murray, Patty [D-WA], Nelson, Bill [D-FL], Nelson, E. Benjamin [D-NE], Obama, Barack [D-IL], Pryor, Mark L. [D-AR], Roberts, Pat [R-KS], Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV], Salazar, Ken [D-CO], Sanders, Bernard [I-VT], Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY], Sessions, Jeff [R-AL], Smith, Gordon H. [R-OR], Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME], Specter, Arlen [R-PA], Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI], Sununu, John E. [R-NH], Tester, Jon [D-MT], Thune, John [R-SD], Vitter, David [R-LA], Warner, John [R-VA], Webb, Jim [D-VA], Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI], and Wyden, Ron [D-OR].

TheEngineer

11-13-2007, 12:42 AM

I wish I knew who the other 14 senators were.

www.cc.org/content.cfm?id=349 (http://www.cc.org/content.cfm?id=349)

Jon Kyl and Senator Sam Brownback Gain 16 Signatures on Their Letter to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist Urging Him to Bring to the Senate Floor the "Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act," H.R. 4411 Passed Last Week by U.S. House of Representatives by Margin of 317-93
Senators Jon Kyl, (R-AZ) and Sam Brownback, (R-KS), gathered the signatures of 14 other Senators on a letter to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, (R-TN), urging Senate consideration of the "Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act," H. R. 4411, to thwart Internet gambling, which passed overwhelmingly in the United States House of Representatives last week by a margin of 317-93 in another “American Values Agenda” vote. In their letter they write, "Internet gambling's characteristics are unique: online players can gamble 24 hours a day from home; children may play without sufficient age verification; and betting with a credit card can undercut a player's perception of the value of cash, leading to possible addiction and, in turn, to bankruptcy, crime and suicide. Professor John Kindt of the University of Illinois put it best when he called Internet gambling the 'crack cocaine of gambling .... There are no needle marks. There's no alcohol on the breath. You click the mouse and lose your house."..."

Uglyowl

11-13-2007, 12:53 AM

As good a start as you can get TE. I had no luck searching for the 16 yet.

TheEngineer

11-13-2007, 01:01 AM

Chris Dodd [D-CT] and Barbara Boxer [D-CA] are "F".

TheEngineer

11-13-2007, 01:09 AM

www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2002/Oct-03-Thu-2002/business/19764978.html (http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2002/Oct-03-Thu-2002/business/19764978.html)

Thursday, October 03, [2002
ONLINE GAMBLING: Kyl to push Web bet ban in Senate

Arizona lawmaker led previous efforts against online wagering

By TONY BATT
STEPHENS WASHINGTON BUREAU

WASHINGTON -- Following this week's House vote, Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., plans to attach restrictions banning Internet gambling to legislation in the Senate before Congress adjourns this year, a Kyl spokesman said Wednesday.

Kyl led efforts to ban Internet gambling in July 1998 and November 1999. The Senate voted 90-10 in favor of the ban in 1998 and passed the 1999 bill by voice vote. Both measures died when the House did not take them up.

On Tuesday, the House passed by voice vote a bill by Rep. Jim Leach, R-Iowa, that would prohibit the use of credit cards, checks and electronic fund transfers to pay for online betting transactions.

If Kyl succeeds in pushing the Leach bill through the Senate and President Bush signs the legislation into law, Internet gambling could be outlawed by the end of the year.

"This time we were waiting for the House to act in order for the Senate to go," Kyl spokesman Matt Latimer said. "I don't think he has decided which legislation (will be used for the Internet gambling ban). He is considering his options."

Latimer said Kyl would push the Leach bill rather than legislation by Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., that would amend the 1961 Wire Act to prohibit Internet gambling.

Although Johnson would prefer his bill, he would still be willing to work with Kyl, according to Johnson spokesman Bob Martin.

"We would prefer amending the Wire Act, but we have worked previously with Kyl on efforts to ban Internet gambling," Martin said.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he would favor any bill that stops or slows Internet gambling. The Bear, Stearns & Co. investment firm estimates there are 1,800 Internet gambling sites and annual industry revenue is expected to reach $4.2 billion by 2003.

"Internet gambling is uncontrollable and very bad for the country," said Reid, a former chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission.

As Senate majority whip, Reid helps determine which bills come to the Senate floor. But even though Reid supports the prohibition of Internet gambling, he said he doubts the Senate will vote on a ban this year.

"We're not doing anything over here," Reid said, referring to the gridlock between Democrats and Republicans over the creation of a new homeland security department.

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., agreed that it is unlikely the Senate will vote on an Internet gambling ban this year.

"I support the concept of an Internet gambling ban, but the only difficulty is in the enforcement," Ensign said.

Frank Fahrenkopf, president of the American Gaming Association, the casino industry's chief lobbying arm, said his group continues to oppose Internet gambling. As for the Leach bill, Fahrenkopf parsed his words.

"We don't oppose it. But there is a difference in not opposing it and supporting it," Fahrenkopf said. "There are people in the industry who are concerned that the ban on credit card payments for Internet gambling could be applied to credit for other forms of gaming."

---------------------------

I realize this is five years ago, but that's still good enough to give Sen. Ensign [R-NV] an "F" until he does something in our favor.

TheEngineer

11-13-2007, 01:32 AM

[ QUOTE ]
As good a start as you can get TE. I had no luck searching for the 16 yet.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks! /images/graemlins/grin.gif

We have to start somewhere. We did get a lot of data on the House once we knew where the blanks to be filled in were. Hopefully the same thing will happen here.

TheEngineer

11-13-2007, 01:45 AM

Senate Summary:

..................... Dem.....Rep
with us..............4..........3
neutral.............40........33
against us..........7........13

TheEngineer

11-13-2007, 01:50 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Senate Summary:

..................... Dem.....Rep
with us..............4..........3
neutral.............40........33
against us..........7........13

[/ QUOTE ]

Even without much data, it's funny how the partisan divide is still strongly evident.

TheEngineer

11-13-2007, 11:02 AM

Update:

Key
A: voted against Sen. Kyl's S 474, which passed the Senate 90-10 (not a great criterion for an A, but it's all I have for this first cut)
?: unknown
F: cosponsored anti-Internet gaming legislation (S474, S 692, S627, S 3006) or S 972 (eliminated federal tax deductions for gambling losses!!!) and/or made strong public statements against Internet gaming
F-: leaders of efforts against us...zealots

A (7 total, 4 D and 3 R):

Biden, Joseph R., Jr. [D-DE], Craig, Larry E. [R-ID], Domenici, Pete V. [R-NM], Feingold, Russell D. [D-WI], Harkin, Tom [D-IA], Inouye, Daniel K. [D-HI], and Stevens, Ted [R-AK].

F (16 total, 1 ID, 4D, and 11 R):

Allard, Wayne [R-CO], Bond, Christopher S. [R-MO], Boxer, Barbara [D-CA], Bunning, Jim [R-KY], Cornyn, John [R-TX], Dodd, Christopher J. [D-CT], Ensign, John [R-NV], Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY], Grassley, Chuck [R-IA], Inhofe, James M. [R-OK], Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT], Lott, Trent [R-MS], Reed, Jack [D-RI], Reid, Harry [D-NV], Shelby, Richard C. [R-AL], and Voinovich, George V. [R-OH].

F- (4 total, 2 D and 2 R):

Brownback, Sam [R-KS], Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA], Johnson, Tim [D-SD], and Kyl, Jon [R-AZ]

? (73 total, 40 D, 1 I, and 33 R):

Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI], Alexander, Lamar [R-TN], Barrasso, John [R-WY], Baucus, Max [D-MT], Bayh, Evan [D-IN], Bennett, Robert F. [R-UT], Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM], Brown, Sherrod [D-OH], Burr, Richard [R-NC], Byrd, Robert C. [D-WV], Cantwell, Maria [D-WA], Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD], Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE], Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA], Chambliss, Saxby [R-GA], Clinton, Hillary Rodham [D-NY], Coburn, Tom [R-OK], Cochran, Thad [R-MS], Coleman, Norm [R-MN], Collins, Susan M. [R-ME], Conrad, Kent [D-ND], Corker, Bob [R-TN], Crapo, Mike [R-ID], DeMint, Jim [R-SC], Dole, Elizabeth [R-NC], Dorgan, Byron L. [D-ND], Durbin, Richard [D-IL], Graham, Lindsey [R-SC], Gregg, Judd [R-NH], Hagel, Chuck [R-NE], Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT], Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX], Isakson, Johnny [R-GA], Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA], Kerry, John F. [D-MA], Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN], Kohl, Herb [D-WI], Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA], Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ], Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT], Levin, Carl [D-MI], Lincoln, Blanche L. [D-AR], Lugar, Richard G. [R-IN], Martinez, Mel [R-FL], McCain, John [R-AZ], McCaskill, Claire [D-MO], McConnell, Mitch [R-KY], Menendez, Robert [D-NJ], Mikulski, Barbara A. [D-MD], Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK], Murray, Patty [D-WA], Nelson, Bill [D-FL], Nelson, E. Benjamin [D-NE], Obama, Barack [D-IL], Pryor, Mark L. [D-AR], Roberts, Pat [R-KS], Rockefeller, John D., IV [D-WV], Salazar, Ken [D-CO], Sanders, Bernard [I-VT], Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY], Sessions, Jeff [R-AL], Smith, Gordon H. [R-OR], Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME], Specter, Arlen [R-PA], Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI], Sununu, John E. [R-NH], Tester, Jon [D-MT], Thune, John [R-SD], Vitter, David [R-LA], Warner, John [R-VA], Webb, Jim [D-VA], Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI], and Wyden, Ron [D-OR].

tangled

11-13-2007, 11:13 AM

[ QUOTE ]
www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2002/Oct-03-Thu-2002/business/19764978.html (http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2002/Oct-03-Thu-2002/business/19764978.html)

Thursday, October 03, [2002
ONLINE GAMBLING: Kyl to push Web bet ban in Senate

Arizona lawmaker led previous efforts against online wagering

By TONY BATT
STEPHENS WASHINGTON BUREAU

WASHINGTON -- Following this week's House vote, Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., plans to attach restrictions banning Internet gambling to legislation in the Senate before Congress adjourns this year, a Kyl spokesman said Wednesday.

Kyl led efforts to ban Internet gambling in July 1998 and November 1999. The Senate voted 90-10 in favor of the ban in 1998 and passed the 1999 bill by voice vote. Both measures died when the House did not take them up.

On Tuesday, the House passed by voice vote a bill by Rep. Jim Leach, R-Iowa, that would prohibit the use of credit cards, checks and electronic fund transfers to pay for online betting transactions.

If Kyl succeeds in pushing the Leach bill through the Senate and President Bush signs the legislation into law, Internet gambling could be outlawed by the end of the year.

"This time we were waiting for the House to act in order for the Senate to go," Kyl spokesman Matt Latimer said. "I don't think he has decided which legislation (will be used for the Internet gambling ban). He is considering his options."

Latimer said Kyl would push the Leach bill rather than legislation by Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., that would amend the 1961 Wire Act to prohibit Internet gambling.

Although Johnson would prefer his bill, he would still be willing to work with Kyl, according to Johnson spokesman Bob Martin.

"We would prefer amending the Wire Act, but we have worked previously with Kyl on efforts to ban Internet gambling," Martin said.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he would favor any bill that stops or slows Internet gambling. The Bear, Stearns & Co. investment firm estimates there are 1,800 Internet gambling sites and annual industry revenue is expected to reach $4.2 billion by 2003.

"Internet gambling is uncontrollable and very bad for the country," said Reid, a former chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission.

As Senate majority whip, Reid helps determine which bills come to the Senate floor. But even though Reid supports the prohibition of Internet gambling, he said he doubts the Senate will vote on a ban this year.

"We're not doing anything over here," Reid said, referring to the gridlock between Democrats and Republicans over the creation of a new homeland security department.

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., agreed that it is unlikely the Senate will vote on an Internet gambling ban this year.

"I support the concept of an Internet gambling ban, but the only difficulty is in the enforcement," Ensign said.

Frank Fahrenkopf, president of the American Gaming Association, the casino industry's chief lobbying arm, said his group continues to oppose Internet gambling. As for the Leach bill, Fahrenkopf parsed his words.

"We don't oppose it. But there is a difference in not opposing it and supporting it," Fahrenkopf said. "There are people in the industry who are concerned that the ban on credit card payments for Internet gambling could be applied to credit for other forms of gaming."

---------------------------

I realize this is five years ago, but that's still good enough to give Sen. Ensign [R-NV] an "F" until he does something in our favor.

[/ QUOTE ]

I felt like puking reading that article. The smug bastards.

TheOneWizard

11-14-2007, 01:13 AM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Senate Summary:

..................... Dem.....Rep
with us..............4..........3
neutral.............40........33
against us..........7........13

[/ QUOTE ]

Even without much data, it's funny how the partisan divide is still strongly evident.

[/ QUOTE ]

Is this a joke? It looks to me like the vast majority of Senators in both parties are currently neutral on the issue.

IndyFish

11-14-2007, 01:25 AM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Senate Summary:

..................... Dem.....Rep
with us..............4..........3
neutral.............40........33
against us..........7........13

[/ QUOTE ]

Even without much data, it's funny how the partisan divide is still strongly evident.

[/ QUOTE ]

Is this a joke? It looks to me like the vast majority of Senators in both parties are currently neutral on the issue.

[/ QUOTE ]

They aren't neutral. We just don't know where they stand yet. Even some who answered letters didn't make it clear whether they were for or against us.

IndyFish

TheEngineer

11-14-2007, 01:29 AM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Senate Summary:

..................... Dem.....Rep
with us..............4..........3
neutral.............40........33
against us..........7........13

[/ QUOTE ]

Even without much data, it's funny how the partisan divide is still strongly evident.

[/ QUOTE ]

Is this a joke? It looks to me like the vast majority of Senators in both parties are currently neutral on the issue.

[/ QUOTE ]

I guess you didn't read the OP. This is what we know today.

TheEngineer

11-14-2007, 01:29 AM

Senate Summary:

..................... Dem.....Rep
with us..............4..........3
unknown..........40........33
against us..........7........13

Legislurker

11-14-2007, 04:42 AM

Im not sure why Domenici voted that way. But he is a NM Republican and his best friend in the Senate is Jon Kyl. He is retiring, but his seniority could be a big obstacle. Do we
really want to list Stevens and Caig as As? If somehow the list was used as a publicity stunt by FoF it would be embarassing that our top supporters included bathroom solicitor and mr bridge to nowhere. Inouye is from Hawaii which has no legal gambling whatsoever, and maybe he felt the bill impacted Hawaii negatively. I want to say Harkin has done some bible thumping in Iowa and spouted anti-gambling rhetoric, Ill search later and see if I can find it. He has some clout/PR value as being the senior Iowa politician for the Dems duing the primary. Im sure if you called Joe Biden and asked his views as a presidential candidate he would elucidate. He likes it when people ask him that way. Feingold isnt bad to list as an A if he actually isnt opposed.

TheEngineer

11-14-2007, 08:47 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Im not sure why Domenici voted that way. But he is a NM Republican and his best friend in the Senate is Jon Kyl. He is retiring, but his seniority could be a big obstacle. Do we
really want to list Stevens and Caig as As? If somehow the list was used as a publicity stunt by FoF it would be embarassing that our top supporters included bathroom solicitor and mr bridge to nowhere. Inouye is from Hawaii which has no legal gambling whatsoever, and maybe he felt the bill impacted Hawaii negatively. I want to say Harkin has done some bible thumping in Iowa and spouted anti-gambling rhetoric, Ill search later and see if I can find it. He has some clout/PR value as being the senior Iowa politician for the Dems duing the primary. Im sure if you called Joe Biden and asked his views as a presidential candidate he would elucidate. He likes it when people ask him that way. Feingold isnt bad to list as an A if he actually isnt opposed.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the great comments. I'm not going to be able to put this out for for anything for than something for us here to chat about for some time, mainly because of the lack of data.

I do agree that A's on this first cut are not necessarily that. After all, I've not heard one of them speak out for us. On the House side, the A's actually had to earn it by doing something tangible, beyond voting against a single bill (and one which we do not know the reason for the vote against...could have been anything). If I had to put something out today I'd definitely use a different term.

If Larry Craig became a strong advocate for us, I'd personally welcome his help. As he hasn't done anything remotely like that, he won't be an "A" in anything I put out as an article. Stevens doesn't bother me as much, I guess, as we're just listing his position. Unlike Craig, he actually has shown evidence of supporting us [and Don Young (R-AK) is an "A"].

The bottom line, I guess, is that this exercise showed how little we really know about the Senate at this time.

Landlord79

11-14-2007, 11:01 AM

David Vitter for LA is against. I've emailed him before and gotten a negative reply.

TheEngineer

11-19-2007, 12:41 PM

[ QUOTE ]
David Vitter for LA is against. I've emailed him before and gotten a negative reply.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks. Can you post the letter here?

TheEngineer

11-19-2007, 12:43 PM

Let's post replies to this topic to the updated thread, at Representatives and Senators For and Against Online Poker, 11/19/07 (http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=13028006&an=0&page=0#Pos t13028006). Thanks.