Washington news briefs for June 15, 2000

Thursday, June 15, 2000 | 11:30 a.m.

Rawlinson to field questions

Federal judicial nominee Johnnie Rawlinson of Las Vegas is scheduled to appear to field questions at a routine confirmation hearing today.

The hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee was originally scheduled for Wednesday, but the committee rescheduled for late this afternoon.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., recommended Rawlinson, now a U.S. District judge for Nevada, to the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, a step beneath the Supreme Court. Clinton approved the nomination; now the Senate must confirm her.

McCain unable to attach amendment

In other Senate action Wednesday, the body briefly discussed a Department of Defense bill that authorizes spending on military projects.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., was eyeing the bill as a vehicle for an anti-gambling amendment. But he never got a chance Wednesday to introduce it on the Senate floor.

The amendment would outlaw betting on college sports in Nevada casinos in an effort to curb game-fixing and rampant betting on college games by students on campuses nationwide.

The Nevada delegation is trying to defeat the legislation. Reid said Wednesday that McCain could still attempt to attach his amendment during discussions of the defense bill in the next few weeks, Reid spokesman David Cherry said.

Gibbons sends letter to Clinton

Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., fired off a letter to President Clinton on Wednesday, urging him against signing any legislation that would ban bets on college sports.

Gibbons was concerned after hearing Tuesday that South Carolina football coach Lou Holtz, an influential supporter of the betting ban bill, had met with Clinton.

The House and Senate have not yet passed the bill. Holtz testified in favor of the bill before the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.

"While I agree with Mr. Holtz on the importance of protecting the integrity of amateur athletics, I respectfully disagree with the proposed solution he advocates," Gibbons wrote.

"(The bill) is built on the faulty premise that ending the extremely small amount of legal wagering in Nevada, which Congress approved in 1992, will drastically reduce illegal gambling outside the State of Nevada."