Democrats May Lose Support If Internet Gambling Does not Pass
Leaders in the Democratic Party have been trying to overturn the unpopular the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) for 4 years. Even though leaders like Rep Barney Frank have looked to be on the side of the online gambling industries they really have not done anything yet to change the laws.
With the new election cycle come up Frank and others on the Democratic Party have the cards tacked against them in overturning the UIGEA. Legislation has been proposed by Frank that did get to the House Financial Services Committee, but the bill has not got to the floor of the House and he has said that it may not take place before the mid-term elections.
As the new election cycle comes into full swing, Rep. Frank and other Democrats are up against the wall on overturning the UIGEA. Frank has proposed legislation that has made it through the House financial services Committee, but he has yet to advance the bill to the House floor, and he acknowledges that may not happen before the mid-term election.
Frank stated in a recent interview about the issue, “I’m not optimistic.” If the bill is not passed in the current session on the Hill it would be yet another delay and it is possible that it could cost the Democrats votes come this November.
For a few years Democrats have had the votes of millions of Internet poker players in America that wanted to be supported by the party so the laws about online poker would be changed. However, with not much being done some supporters of the party and Frank may instead turn their main focus to the slumping economy.
Maury Bell stated, “If the economy is taking center stage and the Democrats do not have time to fit in our agenda of changing the online poker laws, then I am going to have to reassess who I vote for in the upcoming election. It has been a frustrating four years, and I’m not going to allow them (Democrats) to hold my vote hostage any more on the hope that they might make my issue a priority.”
In November the Democrats may lose the majority in the Senate and the House. The majority in the Senate looks to be more stable for the Democrats since the Tea Party candidates may cost the Republican party the chamber majority.
However, in the House there is a legitimate chance that the Democrats will not be in control any longer. If that happens the likelihood of the UIGEA overturned do not look good. Even if there is bi-partisan support it is probable that Republican Spencer Bacchus and other lawmakers that are against pro-gambling legislation will keep the bill penned by Frank from being passed.
There is a still a possibility that in the lame duck session that the bill by Frank will gain momentum. Also, there is a chance that the Democrats will attach Frank’s bill to a bill that will create jobs and this will take place before the elections this November. If this does not take place the balance of power in the House will shift since many people in the United States will vote the other way in the election with how poor the economy is doing and their thoughts that the Democrats have not done anything to improve it.
