Wyden Pushing for HR 2267
November 30, 2009
As the idea of making online gambling legal again gets more and more popular, it is not uncommon to see more representatives jumping on the band wagon. The bill to make online gambling legal again was originally pushed by one, then two people. Now there are a host of others jumping aboard – which tells you that as it gains momentum it stands a real chance of getting passed.
However, there are some people who are trying to work with the online gambling bill that may not be doing things that are in its best interest. Now that it is starting to be so popular, other representatives are hoping that they might be able to use the money that would come from online gambling to their benefit. This is not necessarily the case.
Senator Ron Wyden has come forward saying that he thinks that the online gambling industry should be legalized and regulated, and then goes on to add another bill on top of an already complicated issue. He wants to see some of the revenue from the online gambling industry fund the new health care plan.
He has introduced an amendment to the bill that would dedicate the tax revenue from the online gambling bill to fund health care reform through America’s Healthy Future Act of 2009. Not only is this not feasible because the bill will most likely not be able to see the light of day by the time Rep. Barney Frank’s bill is voted on, but it is a good way to gum up the works.
Now you have people who are for online gambling but not for health care asking how they can support it, and you have people for health care but not for online gambling asking if from the other side.
