Re: How Many Senators Would Have Voted Otherwise?
If this bill came to a vote by itself, it would pass easily, say 80 - 20. There would be four groups voting for the bill:
- The religious fundamentalists who believe that all gambling should be illegal (Jon Kyl and many others from the South)
- The nanny-state Senators who want to protect us from everything (e.g. Diane Feinstein)
- Voting for the measure because it will help them politically (e.g. Frist)
- Voting for the measure for [political] party reasons
Although I'm no expert in this like Berge or Mr. K, I'd expect the first three groups to total over 50. And this points out the problems we will have in getting this measure reversed. There are many Senators who believe that all gambling should be illegal. There are many other Senators, including both California Senators, who want to protect us from ourselves. I can't see any way that a measure "carving out" poker would pass the Senate by itself. Indeed, the only way I can see something like that passing is by attaching it to some must-pass bill.
Eventually, Congress will see that Internet gambling could bring in hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenues, and that's when I see it being legalized (and taxed and regulated).
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