Frist Not Giving Up

Last week, Poker Source reported that Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist’s attempt to add anti-online gaming legislation to the FY 2007 defense appropriations bill had failed. This week, things have possibly changed.

According to reports out of Washington, Frist has snuck his excruciatingly self-serving anti-online gaming language back into the bill. As of now, nothing is final, and the overall defense bill is being held up by House Speaker Dennis Hastert, who wants to add other non-defense related provisions. He is threatening to delay a vote until he gets what he wants.

Hastert is pushing for added security for judges, both inside and outside of the courtroom, and easier deportation of convicted gang members. The courtroom security language will probably be added, as Senate leaders had promised it earlier this year, but the deportation/immigration portion may prove to be a stickier issue.

In the meantime, Frist’s move would outlaw financial transactions from U.S. institutions to overseas online gaming companies.

The end of this session of Congress is quickly approaching, so let’s hope that Hastert’s political games trump Frist’s political games.

Originally published September 26, 2006