“The poker bill has a chance” said Congressman Joe Barton (R-TX) Tuesday at the Digital Gaming and Lottery Policy Summit in Washington DC. The keynote speaker was surprisingly candid on where he thinks the best odds lie on a federal internet poker bill reaching the President’s desk before the end of 2012.
“My best guess is that if we move our bill out of the Energy Commerce Committee there would be some sort of discussion between the Speaker of the House John Boehner and Majority Leader Reid in which they’ll try to reach an agreement on a vehicle over in the Senate,” said Barton.
For the first time Barton also mentioned an attachment method as a possibility to get his bill passed, claiming such an effort was considered by the Super Committee last month but was never definitively in the final product. He also briefly spoke of a possible attachment in the coming weeks for passage but hinted that it would be difficult.
“There’s going be an omnibus bill of some sort of in the next 3 weeks with a continued resolution to fund the government through next September. This bill could be a component of that if there are revenues in the bill,” said the Congressman.
There have been no reports yet of any such attachment despite whisperings and Barton still seems focused on taking the bill through the normal route of passage out of the House of Representatives.
“I think we have the votes in the House to get it through. If we get it to a vote on the floor of the House I think it will pass,” said Barton.
Last month the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade of the House of Representatives discussed regulated online gambling in the US. Many are of the opinion that Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-CA), chairman of the committee, is not likely to grant further discussions on the matter after her statements from the hearing. Tuesday Barton said Rep. Bono Mack is “very open to moving the bill” and hopes the legislation will get marked up in January or February.
The Texas congressman also confirmed the long discussed claims that Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) is on board with federal online poker legislation and working alongside Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV).
“[Reid’s] got some support from republican Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona. Kyl and Reid are having discussions that I’m not privy to,” said Barton.
Online poker source Pokerati.com provided a recording of Barton’s keynote speech and highlights of the summit were discussed on Twitter by industry insiders @pokerati, @taxdood, @pokerscar, and @casinocityvin.
