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

[Mr.K]

Whatever day of the week it is today update:

CongressDaily is reporting that negotiations on the DoD Authorization have stalled, and that no action in the House is expected until next week. The article also contains a very interesting tidbit about other unresolved issues beyond the prayer matter, which I think we should all take as a warning that whatever the conference report might look like right now -- it remains subject to change, and is thus still a possibility to carry the Leach bill as a rider. Here's what the article had to say:

"As House and Senate Armed Services leaders struggled Wednesday to find common ground on lingering issues in their versions of the FY07 defense authorization bill, House Republicans said it appeared lawmakers would push a final vote on the measure into next week.

Delaying the defense authorization vote, which was expected in the House today, leaves Congress with a full schedule of national security issues to consider in the dwindling number of days before lawmakers leave town for the mid-term congressional elections. Other business on tap next week includes the FY07 Defense appropriations conference report, legislation authorizing military tribunals, and the warrantless surveillance bill.

By Wednesday evening, House Armed Services Chairman Hunter and Senate Armed Services Chairman Warner remained in negotiations over language in the House-passed defense authorization bill that would allow military chaplains to pray in the name of Jesus Christ."

The article closes with the interesting tidbit I referenced earlier, coming from House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Ike Skelton (D-MO):

"The chaplains issue remained the biggest roadblock to completing the conference, although House Armed Services ranking member Ike Skelton, D-Mo., stressed that other issues remained unresolved." (emphasis added)

So that's what I know... I'll try to post an update later today. Also worth knowing is this: the House and Senate appear to be melting down right now on every single issue remaining for consideration: defense appropriations, defense authorization, homeland security appropriations, border security, offshore drilling, tax & minimum wage (aka the "trifecta"), military tribunals, and NSA wiretapping. The way I understand things, on every single one of those issues there are major roadblocks to passing bills by Sept 29 (the generally accepted adjournment date). This is shocking to me, and it portends for a busy and confusing final week in which all kinds of crazy [censored] -- or nothing at all -- could happen. This much is certain, I'd bet the farm against Kyl's bill clearing the Senate on a standalone basis this week (e.g. via unanimous consent). As for attaching it to another bill, that's still an open question, and a particular threat for the omnibus appropriations bill later this year.

[S0meGuy]

Mr.K and Berge20,

Can't be said enough...thanks for your ongoing efforts in keeping us posted as things happen...it is greatly appreciated.

S0meGuy

[Wynton]

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Whatever day of the week it is today update:

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I know the feeling.

[Jestocost]

From CongressDaily PM

Judiciary. Senate Majority Leader Frist's attempt to attach a rider to the defense authorization bill to crack down on the $12 billion online gambling industry has failed, according to a high-ranking House aide. Frist was seeking to add a scaled-down anti-gambling rider to a bill that negotiators intend to complete before next week's recess. In July, the House passed, 317-93, a comprehensive measure to ban most forms of online gambling, as supporters contended that this year represents the best opportunity to crack down on the industry because of the political fallout from the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal.
Abramoff was instrumental in helping defeat an Internet gambling ban on the House floor in 2000. But the House measure has stalled in the Senate because of opposition from unidentified senators sympathetic to gambling interests. Defense authorizers have been wary of attaching non-military provisions to the measure. Advocates for the gambling industry remain on guard, however, that other attempts to attach the provision could be made during a lame-duck session in November.

[antneye]

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From CongressDaily PM

Judiciary. Senate Majority Leader Frist's attempt to attach a rider to the defense authorization bill to crack down on the $12 billion online gambling industry has failed, according to a high-ranking House aide. Frist was seeking to add a scaled-down anti-gambling rider to a bill that negotiators intend to complete before next week's recess. In July, the House passed, 317-93, a comprehensive measure to ban most forms of online gambling, as supporters contended that this year represents the best opportunity to crack down on the industry because of the political fallout from the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal.
Abramoff was instrumental in helping defeat an Internet gambling ban on the House floor in 2000. But the House measure has stalled in the Senate because of opposition from unidentified senators sympathetic to gambling interests. Defense authorizers have been wary of attaching non-military provisions to the measure. Advocates for the gambling industry remain on guard, however, that other attempts to attach the provision could be made during a lame-duck session in November.

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We win the round, but the fight is not over.

[LesJ]

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But the House measure has stalled in the Senate because of opposition from unidentified senators sympathetic to gambling interests

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Who are they referring to? What "gambling interests" are they sympathetic to? And will they be in the loop when Frist attempts to attach this to the budget later this year?

Les

[Dunkman]

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Who are they referring to? What "gambling interests" are they sympathetic to? And will they be in the loop when Frist attempts to attach this to the budget later this year?

Les

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Well the casino industry is against banning online gambling (they'd like to cash in one day for one, also maybe they think people gambling online makes them more likely to come gamble in vegas.) Also, in the house bill, the horse racing industry didn't like the language.

[whangarei]

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From CongressDaily PM

Judiciary. Senate Majority Leader Frist's attempt to attach a rider to the defense authorization bill to crack down on the $12 billion online gambling industry has failed, according to a high-ranking House aide. Frist was seeking to add a scaled-down anti-gambling rider to a bill that negotiators intend to complete before next week's recess. In July, the House passed, 317-93, a comprehensive measure to ban most forms of online gambling, as supporters contended that this year represents the best opportunity to crack down on the industry because of the political fallout from the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal.
Abramoff was instrumental in helping defeat an Internet gambling ban on the House floor in 2000. But the House measure has stalled in the Senate because of opposition from unidentified senators sympathetic to gambling interests. Defense authorizers have been wary of attaching non-military provisions to the measure. Advocates for the gambling industry remain on guard, however, that other attempts to attach the provision could be made during a lame-duck session in November.

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We win the round, but the fight is not over.

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Great news! Thanks Mr. K, Berge, & Co. Maybe the grassroots lobbying effort generated by this forum did some good. Now on to Round 2, which seems to be the Omnibus spending bill.

[Jack Bando]

More like round 3 (Round 1 was the holds, this was 2, but meh)

Berge/Mr K, how much does Reid being against a tack-on job help our cause?

[Mr.K]

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More like round 3 (Round 1 was the holds, this was 2, but meh)

Berge/Mr K, how much does Reid being against a tack-on job help our cause?

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Hard to say... I'll try to post on this more substantively later this week or weekend.