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AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid talks on the phone as he walks to their Senate Democratic caucus on Capitol Hill in Washington on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010.
Published Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010 | 12:59 p.m.
Updated Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010 | 5:42 p.m.
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- Harry Reid faces reporters on Wednesday
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Sun Archives
- Harry Reid rushes effort to legalize Internet poker (12-7-2010)
- Harry Reid pushes bill to allow for online gambling (12-3-2010)
- Nevada gaming companies see potential flush online (8-2-2010)
- Online gambling is illegal, but betting sites’ logos often in Nevada casinos (7-13-2010)
- Online poker law in effect, but players still manage to bet (7-11-2010)
- Question evolving from legalization debate: How to tax online casinos? (5-24-2010)
- Lawmakers push to regulate, tax online gaming (5-19-2010)
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's staff said late Wednesday that he is still intent on pushing for legislation during the lame duck session to legalize online poker.
The remarks came in response to a Sun article posted online earlier in the day. In that earlier article, Reid was quoted telling the Sun after a press conference that he would not be adding legalization of online poker to his list of objectives during the lame duck session.
“We’re still working on that, we’re not able to,” Reid said in a remark captured on audio tape.
A spokesman for Reid said later that the Senator’s comment got muddled in the cacophony of the Senate hallways, and that online gambling is still something he’d like to see move forward.
“Senator Reid’s response to the question was that we’re still working on it. The second part of his quote was in response to a question he heard of someone asking about the House schedule,” said Reid spokesman Tom Brede late Wednesday, a few hours after the story originally ran. The second question isn’t audible on the tape and Reid did not pause much between the clauses, but Reid and one of his spokesmen said that the Senator was in fact responding to a question posed about the GOP’s proposal to do three weeks in session, followed by one week out.
The gaming lobby was in a frenzy Wednesday in the wake of the report. Sources who are big backers of Harry Reid said they expected the senator to at least be pushing politically to bring the bill to the floor during the lame duck session, even if it could not carry enough votes to pass, because after Jan. 1, the issue would be politically dead.
The plan everyone was hoping for, gaming lobby sources said, was to have the online poker legalization be brought up as a last-minute measure, attached to a larger legislation — most likely the tax extenders bill — and carried as an amendment. While sources admitted they had received no promise from Reid that he would indeed pursue that plan, their sense was that the majority leader was on board.
Reid’s office hasn’t been willing to comment on the state of the draft bill that has been circulating Congress for a little over a week now, which lays out a plan to legalize online poker, and have the states and federal government cooperate to license companies hoping to enter new market, and share revenues generated. The industry is currently worth about $25 billion.
Current ranking members (soon-to-be chairs) Spencer Bachus of the Financial Services Committee, Dave Camp of the Ways and Means Committee, and Lamar Smith of the Judiciary Committee wrote a letter to Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell last week voicing their opposition to speeding a gambling bill through during the lame duck.
Next year, those ranking members will be chairmen and well-poised to block any effort Reid might be able to spearhead through the Senate from coming up in the House.
In 2006, a Republican-led House passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which made all forms of gambling on the Internet for money illegal. The draft language that was circulating would have legalized online poker only, but that’s still an industry that is estimated to engage 15 million participants a year — a number that is only expected to grow if the industry becomes legal.
Reid gives me indegestion and too think he was reelected.
Whatever happened to the sales tax deduction for states without an income tax? Did Harry blow this one, too? I'm a Democrat, but other than the fact that he ran against an absolute lunatic, I wouldn't have voted for him.
Jesus, six more years. Glad Rory lost,too.
About as appealing as a banana peel on a kitchen floor. They are the curse of the Mormons big time.
Glad it's gone ...just another way top rip people off...even if you think your the worlds greatest poker player.
"In 2006, a Republican-led House passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which made all forms of gambling on the Internet for money illegal. "
This statement is false. The UIGEA didn't say anything about what kind of internet gambling was illegal or legal. It just made it illegal to transfer funds online for the purposes of illegal internet gambling. What constituted illegal internet gambling was not specified.
I support people being able to gamble and it sure isn't the federal government's proper place to decide that issue for the whole country. And I am a very conservative Republican. Stuff like this gets me angry with other Republicans. But at least they are doing a good job on the 2nd Amendment front these days...
What was the precise question you asked Senator Reid that elicited the response: "we're still working on that; we're not able to."
What happened to all the fringe right-wingers claiming this was political payback?
Cat got your tongue?
Well, so much for "the most powerful man in the Senate".
Nobody does more, huh?
If it was a govt. giveaway or a bill benefiting illegals, Reid would hang on like a bulldog. This sucks.......
Dirty deeds - done dirt cheap.
Harry Mason Reid.
Ksand, what are you talking about, this was clearly payback to his donors. This guy is cagey. He knew it wouldn't be going anywhere but "he tried".
This is nothing more than political payback on Harry's behalf...
Based on articles I'm reading online, it sounds like the Sun may have jumped the gun with this article, or misinterpreted the comment from Reid's office.
Excuse me, but I thought conservatives want the government to get out of the way of business. This is one type of business. Is it not? The trillions of dollars that flow through the derivatives market are almost totally unregulated. Of course the Wall street gamblers have almost ruined this country. The only things that need regulating by law are things that can hurt OTHER people. Online gambling may ruin an undisciplined individual, but not his neighbor. The "righties" have it wrong again.
The word DOLT clearly defines Searchlight Harry. For those of you that don't have a dictionary here is the definition----Dolt-a stupid, slow-witted person; blockhead. The next time he opens his mouth just listen and the definition will fit.
control, control, control...once the government get their hands on a new income source, they never let go.
Government bleeds income sources and then hands it over to people, who do not NEED the money.
Online gambling may be acceptable if regulated properly, but this is nothing but political payback from Harry Reid...
Like organized criminals in the bowels of a casino counting room, government's function is to only permit (legalize) activities which allow the action (commerce) to be skimmed by "the organization" known as government.
Alphonse "Big Boy" Caprice:
"I have a vision. A big boss must have a vision. We gotta town with thousands of small stores and businesses. People are working real hard. I think they should be working real hard -- for us.
Because we are for the people, "and if you ain't for the people, you can't buy the people." -Lincoln.
We will become the people's silent partner, every time some citizen buys a pound of hamburger, we get a nickel -- every time some guy gets a haircut, we get a dime -- we're just like bankers -- join the rotary club -- together we will own this town.
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