Ron Wyden Pulls Online Gambling Bill

The Congressman giveth and the Congressman taketh away.  Such is the case with a bill that survived nearly 6 days before it was yanked on Wednesday.  That bill, brought forth by Senator Ron Wyden (D - Ore.) would have legalized and taxed online gambling to help pay for healthcare reform.

Gambling911.com reported on the newly proposed bill that morning after it was quietly introduced during the weekend.  Now it's been withdrawn.

In a statement to The Hill, Wyden's communications director said Wyden did not want to introduce another controversial issue into the healthcare debate, and would pull his amendment from consideration. 

"The last thing Sen. Wyden wants to do is make it more difficult to expand subsidies for working families by introducing a new contentious issue to the debate," said Jennifer Hoelzer, his communications director. "So when he offers the amendment, he will do it with other funding mechanisms."

"Changing the laws regarding online gaming is a significant detour from healthcare, a detour that Sen. Reid agrees is not appropriate at this time," said Regan LaChapelle, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).

Though controversial in nature, a number of Congressmen and women offered their support should future measures surface.

"Money's money. If that's the price we pay, that's the price," said Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.). "I would consider adding it."

Wyden's legislation would have complimented Congressman Barney Frank's H.R. 2267, which also looks to legalize online gambling (specifically Internet poker), by having funneled revenue to low-income subsidies for health care.

"It's a great idea," Frank said. "Why should we leave all that money untaxed?"

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Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher