is barney frank jeopardizing his own online gambling bill?

[fizresh]

he's added a completely unrelated item - $1 billion for low-income housing. isn't that basically the same stunt the republicans pulled - port security + UIGEA?

"Hearings on the proposed legislation are scheduled to begin on July 12 with many Republicans in Congress stating that they will vote down the proposal. Although Democrats now outnumber Republicans in the lawmaking body, a situation that was not the case when UIGEA was passed, this additional legislation has angered many in Frank’s own party and made the prospect of the Bill passing increasingly doubtful."

http://www.igamingbusiness.com/artic...rticleID=14030

[fizresh]

edit - ugh. sorry, but now i'm confused. i re-read the first paragraph of this linked article and i can't tell if the bill is in danger of passing or failing. i should have slept in.

"A proposed Congressional Bill designed to reform online gambling in the United States could be in danger of becoming reality due to supplementary legislation that promises a billion-dollar bonus for affordable housing."

[PokeReader]

Yup, that's a killer amendment. Will have to do some research to find out why.

[Grasshopp3r]

Maybe the bill is more palatable for the dems that way. The republicans are in the minority. He does not need much of their support, if any.

[Lostit]

This could be some back room dealing that Frank is using to gain support. Riders are rarely for the person who actually attaches their name to them. Frank, as a representative for Provincetown in Massachusetts, is probably not too concerned about affordable housing since its a relatively affluent area. On the other hand, he could be putting this rider in as a favor for someone else in return for a favor that he has requested, which we do not know about at this time.

This is a relatively common practice in DC. One congressman asks another to attach a rider that relates to an issue which may be very sensitive in their area, but not that sensitive an issue in the area of the person that actually puts their name on the rider. In return, the first congressman repays the favor in some other way.

We'll never know the answer on this one for sure, but I'd be willing to bet this is some kind of favor in return for helping build support for the bill.

It could also be a way for him to say to any opponents who vote against this: "You don't support affordable housing for America's families?"

****I'm sure FoF would love that last line.

[PokeReader]

A billion is too much though. With the new pay-as-you-go budget rules this is a sure death move.

[jackaaron]

He will tell the others, "So, you're going to vote against the poor Americans who need help with low income housing? How can you do such a thing?"

[TheEngineer]

[ QUOTE ]
A billion is too much though. With the new pay-as-you-go budget rules this is a sure death move.

[/ QUOTE ]

Why? If online gaming generates $1B per year in tax revenue, how does eliminating this revenue source help pay-go? If anything, it seems this (in and of itself) would enhance the bill.

As for the article, it's confusing in that it claims there is $1B, then digresses into discussion about how only some of this is from Internet gaming, then further fails to make clear if this is one bill or two, so I checked.

Barney Frank announced legislation (H.R. 2895) creating the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund on June 28th. It allocates between $800 M and $1B per year to the trust fund. Funding:

[ QUOTE ]
The National Affordable Housing Trust Fund will be funded from amounts provided in the recently passed Government Sponsored Enterprises’ (GSE) Affordable Housing Fund (H.R. 1427), from savings from Federal Housing Administration reforms contained in H.R. 1852, the Expanding Americans Home Ownership Act, and from any other funding sources that may be subsequently identified.

[/ QUOTE ]

So, maybe SOME Internet poker revenue goes there. It seems what's annoying leadership is H.R. 2895. H.R. 2895 is online (linked above); it contains no gaming revenue verbiage yet. Perhaps a change is forthcoming. Rep. Frank did promise to honor pay-go:

[ QUOTE ]
The new bill, H.R. 2895, will initially allocate between $800 million and $1 billion annually to states and local communities, without increasing government spending or the federal deficit.

[/ QUOTE ]

I guess someone will have to call him and ask.

[frommagio]

[ QUOTE ]
he's added a completely unrelated item - $1 billion for low-income housing. isn't that basically the same stunt the republicans pulled - port security + UIGEA?

[/ QUOTE ]

Now this is the Barney Frank I've always known. Recall also that he's already loaded the bill with taxing opportunities.

[Jerry D]

It is a VERY good move to add in funding for low income housing. People who don't give a flying fishstick about poker will vote for a housing bill giving poor people a chance to put a roof over their heads. This is VERY, VERY good news folks and will make it MUCH easier to pass.