Heavy agenda and long lunch delay HR 2267 vote
Industry observers expecting a vote on the mark-up of Barney Frank's proposal to legalise US online gambling Tuesday (see previous InfoPowa reports) were disappointed to learn that a heavy business agenda and lunch break delays curtailed the House Financial Services Committee deliberations before HR2267 was reached.
However, the bill is first up for debate Wednesday July 28 when the Committee reconvenes.
HR 2267 – the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act – is the third of seven bills before the Committee and has been submitted for mark up following a second Congressional hearing last week .
Observers expect the mark up debate to centre on precautions against underage and problem gambling and the exclusion of organised crime; states' jealously guarded rights and the manner in which licenses will be handled.
Much of Tuesday's Committee activity was taken up by just two other bills that preceded HR2267 on the agenda, and the slow progress was then reportedly exacerbated by the members of the committee taking a three hour lunch break before returning to complete deliberations on HR 4868 the Housing Preservation and Tenant Protection Act of 2010, which was allowed to progress further.