Online gambling to be attached to defense bill???- article Uh oh!!!

[scoobylee]

FWIW, after the hearing in Cedar Rapids, there was a press release from Loebsack that stated that Leach should not spend time on unimportant issues like Internet gambling. Those of you in Iowa might want to look and see how they can help with his campaign. Here is a link to the article

Loebsack Campaign: Questions Leach Priorities

[Mr.K]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
In a lame duck scenario, I think online poker players would fare worse. Frist and Co. would have significantly more time to hammer out a deal. The nexus of Iowa's importance in selecting presidential candidates with Frist's desire to get the GOP nomination with his leadership post in the Senate with his pending retirement with Leach's home state of IA creates a tremendous one-time coming together of events that favor continued pressure for passage right through the end. I hadn't fully realized this until this past weekend. Those are some pretty intense forces, and they should not be taken lightly when combined. Getting good press in IA, and commitments from Congressman to help in 08 is a priority for Frist, and I believe he'll do almost anything to move forward on those fronts . Just my guess -- I don't know him or his plans directly.

[/ QUOTE ]

getting good press in iowa will make him push hard, but shouldn't the desire to get commitments from congressmen have the opposite effect? he should be giving out favors, not cashing them in and stepping on toes.

[/ QUOTE ]

He would be giving out a favor to Leach by passing his bill. Leach would, presumably, help Frist in his portion of Iowa in 2008 in return.

[ShakeZula06]

So, do we know for sure one way or another whether the online gaming bill is piggybacked on the defense bill or not?

[Berge20]

Not yet. May not know until the conference report is filed.

I cant get near it at the moment. Staff working on this puppy are being good and not discussing much.

[Bilgefisher]

[ QUOTE ]
Not yet. May not know until the conference report is filed.

I cant get near it at the moment. Staff working on this puppy are being good and not discussing much.

[/ QUOTE ]

Suddenly the mission impossible theme starts playing...

[BluffTHIS!]

Mr. K and Berge,

Since there are a couple very contentious germaine issues in the DOD authorization bill, do you believe it likely that if same aren't compromised on to the liking of a couple senators (like the national guard thing), that they might then place a hold on the bill that comes out of the conference committee?

[Mr.K]

[ QUOTE ]
Mr. K and Berge,

Since there are a couple very contentious germaine issues in the DOD authorization bill, do you believe it likely that if same aren't compromised on to the liking of a couple senators (like the national guard thing), that they might then place a hold on the bill that comes out of the conference committee?

[/ QUOTE ]

Technically possible, but not likely. Even if they put a hold on it, that hold can be overcome by cloture (60 votes), and I have no doubt that any DoD bill, this close to an election, would have no trouble gaining 60 votes.

[Mr.K]

Wednesday Morning Update:

CongressDaily has a piece on the DoD Authorization this morning, which seems to communicate the same message as in past days: the conference is still open, and the prayer and guard issues remain hangups. No word yet as to when the report will be completed or filed:

"Defense authorization conference negotiations remained deadlocked Tuesday, with conferees unable to reach agreement on language that would allow military chaplains to pray in the name of Jesus Christ.

Several House Republicans met Tuesday night to discuss the issue, though there was no agreement with the Senate at presstime. Congressional aides remained hopeful Tuesday that lawmakers could complete work on the final conference report for the FY07 defense authorization bill as early as today."

Later in the article:

"Warner said he would support holding hearings on the issue as soon a Congress reconvenes in January. Opponents of the Hunter provision [the prayer provision], including Defense Secretary Rumsfeld, remain concerned that the language could marginalize non-Christian service members and perhaps even open the door to coercive practices. Supporters, however, argue that curbing chaplains' ability to preach limits their First Amendment rights."

As has been stated before, no news on gambling is probably good news, but the longer this report remains open, the more opportunities Frist & Co will have to make a deal.

[Mr.K]

Breaking News from Congressional Quarterly:

"Conferees on the fiscal 2007 defense authorization will file a conference report Wednesday that would provide less funding than the Pentagon would prefer for its future multi-role fighter and would strengthen federal controls over the National Guard during a disaster — provided the conferees resolve a dispute over military chaplains.

...

The conference report could reach the House floor as soon as Thursday, congressional sources said. Negotiators have spent weeks hammering out differences between the two measures."

[futuredoc85]

[ QUOTE ]
Breaking News from Congressional Quarterly:

"Conferees on the fiscal 2007 defense authorization will file a conference report Wednesday that would provide less funding than the Pentagon would prefer for its future multi-role fighter and would strengthen federal controls over the National Guard during a disaster — provided the conferees resolve a dispute over military chaplains.

...

The conference report could reach the House floor as soon as Thursday, congressional sources said. Negotiators have spent weeks hammering out differences between the two measures."

[/ QUOTE ]

it seems to be a plus that gambling is not even mentioned in an article written on the day it could potentially be finalized. Or is it possible that this issue is just that far below the radar and frist managed to keep it quiet until its a done deal?