Frist trying to attach Online Gambling bill to defense bill

JC · 09-13-2006, 09:39 PM

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14824615/

Online gambling to become part of defense bill?
Frist trying to piggyback credit card ban on military funding authorization

Updated: 1 hour, 15 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is trying use a bill authorizing U.S. military operations, including in Iraq and Afghanistan, to prohibit people from using credit cards to settle Internet gambling debts.

Frist, R-Tenn., and his aides have been meeting with other lawmakers and officials in both the House and Senate to get the measure attached to a compromise Defense Department authorization bill, according to a Senate GOP leadership aide.

The House passed a version of the Internet gambling measure in July, but the Senate has taken no action on similar legislation. Neither of the defense bills passed by the House and Senate mention it.

Frist is pushing for an approach that isn’t quite as sweeping as the House measure, said the leadership aide and lobbyists following the issue. All spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing negotiations.

Frist, eyeing a 2008 presidential bid, recently discussed the online gambling measure in the politically important state of Iowa. He also called it a legislative priority in a recent speech on the Senate floor.

The measure’s supporters include the National Football League as well as conservative and antigambling groups. Some banking groups are lobbying against it.

Federal officials have made recent arrests involving offshore companies operating Internet gambling sites. The Internet gambling industry is headquartered almost entirely outside the United States although many of its customers live in the U.S.

The bills authorizing defense programs are: S.2507 and H.R.5122.

tacomax · 09-13-2006, 09:51 PM

Using the laws concerning the nation's defence to push through legislation which will restrict the freedom of America as a whole in any number of different areas? That's a surprise.

Scorpion · 09-13-2006, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JC

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14824615/

The measure’s supporters include the National Football League as well as conservative and antigambling groups. Some banking groups are lobbying against it.

.

STUPID!
If the bill is passed I am done with DirecTV NFL sunday ticket!

tacomax · 09-13-2006, 10:18 PM

Have the NFL got a specific reason for backing this legislation. I understand how they might not want to lobby against it but I don't really see why they would lobby for it.

bigboydan · 09-13-2006, 10:20 PM

It sure sounds like there gonna push this thru anyway they possibly can.

I think this is just wrong to for these people who the people voted in to allow such low attempts to try and brainwash the U.S. public like this.

tacomax · 09-13-2006, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigboydan

I think this is just wrong to for these people who the people voted in to allow such low attempts to try and brainwash the U.S. public like this.

Happens all the time, though, and not just limited to the USA. Want something passed through quickly? Just incorporate it into legislation concerning the "War On Terror" and you'll have no problems. If you oppose it, they you're an Al Qaeda sympathiser, right?

bigboydan · 09-13-2006, 10:31 PM

basically yes taco. aka-brainwashing the poor U.S. citizens

moses millsap · 09-13-2006, 10:48 PM

Ridiculous.

slacker00 · 09-13-2006, 11:43 PM

They need to make a law against attaching unrelated items to a bill. I've always thought this was retarded. Why not let each item stand on it's own merit as two seperate bills? Piggyback bill policy is spineless and destructive.

tacomax · 09-13-2006, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slacker00

They need to make a law against attaching unrelated items to a bill....Piggyback bill policy is spineless and destructive.

You think that. I know that. But it's a very good way for politicans to push through legislation they might not have the chance to do so easily. Do you really think that they're going to legislate against something that makes their job easier?

If you - or anyone else - doesn't like it then do something about it. Write to your representatives and tell them what you think. If only one person does it, it won't have an effect. If 200 million people do (OK, I know we're talking about the realms of the impossible here), then it will.

pags11 · 09-14-2006, 05:23 AM

politicians are just a bunch of a-holes...

isetcap · 09-14-2006, 05:35 AM

This is nothing more than a PR move for Frist. Piggyback legislation is a common procedure to sweeten the pot for the other side of the aisle. In this case, two conservative priorities would be tied into one bill and serve only to generate stiffer opposition from the left. While they may not be able to defeat such legislation, they certainly would be able to stifle it.

Having said that, if this were the only form of legislation that made it through Congress to restrict offshore gambling then we should all be content as it simply restricts use of credit card funding. Anybody that is pulling funds off their credit card for offshore gambling purposes is both a magician and an idiot.

jjgold · 09-14-2006, 06:51 AM

Might pass now with this new info

Dark Horse · 09-14-2006, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by isetcap

This is nothing more than a PR move for Frist. Piggyback legislation is a common procedure to sweeten the pot for the other side of the aisle. In this case, two conservative priorities would be tied into one bill and serve only to generate stiffer opposition from the left. While they may not be able to defeat such legislation, they certainly would be able to stifle it.

Having said that, if this were the only form of legislation that made it through Congress to restrict offshore gambling then we should all be content as it simply restricts use of credit card funding. Anybody that is pulling funds off their credit card for offshore gambling purposes is both a magician and an idiot.

Exactly, this is about credit cards. That, and the manner in which they're trying to pass this, should show us exactly what type of chance they think they really have. This is an admission of defeat. Even if they get the CC thing through, who cares? We won folks. Happy betting!

JC · 09-14-2006, 11:41 AM

No, CC's are only what was included in the article. I would bet any abbreviated version would refer to ALL financial transactions.

The press gets things wrong and leaves things out all of the time.

cincy_1 · 09-14-2006, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tacomax

Have the NFL got a specific reason for backing this legislation. I understand how they might not want to lobby against it but I don't really see why they would lobby for it.

Good point. Why would the NFL support it? Would anyone stay up for the 2nd half of a blowout MNF game unless they had money on it?

The only answer I have is that it is TOKEN support - the kind where you donate no money and aren't really for it but can't say you're against it.