Christian Coalition head meets with White House chief

Thursday, March 13, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

Ralph Reed met for 15 minutes with Clinton aide Erskine Bowles to pitch 11 potential candidates for the commission.

President Clinton has yet to announce his three selections for the panel, which will study the effects of gambling in America.

Bill Bible, chairman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board, has been considered a leading contender for one of Clinton's three choices. But the president has delayed any announcement on his selections, raising concerns Bible might not make the cut.

Speaking through a spokesman, Reed said the Christian Coalition contacted the administration as well as GOP congressional leaders because: "We wanted to ensure that the gambling commission was a fair, balanced and unbiased body that would conduct a thorough investigation of the social impact of the gambling industry."

There was no indication Clinton was close to naming his choices.

"There's no sense we're any closer to a decision on this than we were a few weeks ago," White House spokesman Josh Silverman said.

Nevada's Democratic senators suggested the meetings were little more than routine.

"It indicates the intensity of interest by the Christian Coalition, but I think Erskine Bowles has done nothing more than respond to a request for a meeting," said Sen. Richard Bryan.

Sen. Harry Reid said he expected little to come out of the session.

Critics opposed to legalized gambling have argued that Bible's appointment would stack the panel with pro-gaming interests.

J. Terrence Lanni, chairman of MGM Grand Inc., is the only gaming executive currently named to the nine-member panel.