Debt Super Committee Could Hold Key to Online Poker Legislation Read more: http://www.pokernews.com/news/2011/08/debt-super-committee-could-hold-key-online-poker-legislation-10874.htm

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid reportedly told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that Internet poker legislation “will get done.” This is the first time the Nevada senator has spoken so assuredly about the future of online poker. Whether Reid’s prediction happens sooner rather than later likely will depend on the debt super committee.

The joint select committee on deficit reduction has been tasked with finding at least $1.5 trillion in debt savings over the next 10 years. Licensing and regulating Internet poker is a way the committee could identify billions of dollars with little effort.

“I think there’s a very good chance we’re going to get in the discussion,” Poker Players Alliance executive director John Pappas said about online poker. “Whether it makes it into the final recommendation is the question.”

The super committee is a result of the Budget Control Act of 2011, the debt-ceiling agreement signed into law by President Obama on Aug. 2. The law created the bipartisan committee, which has been called super because it has the unprecedented authority to craft a bill that may not be amended or filibustered. The bill, as written by the committee, will get a majority vote in the Senate and House. If passed, it will go to President Obama for final approval.

If online poker is put on the bill by the committee, it is there to stay. Whether or not the bill passes will have little to do with poker and be all about politics, but poker will be along for the ride. If poker is put on the bill, the second hurdle will be for the committee itself to come to an agreement. With six Democrats and six Republicans, the committee will be in a 6-6 deadlock unless at least one member is willing to break party lines. The 12 members were picked by the leadership of their party, presumably with loyalty in mind.

The 12 members are Democratic Sens. Patty Murray (Wash.), Max Baucus (Mont.) and John F. Kerry (Mass.), Republican Sens. Jon Kyl (Ariz.), Rob Portman (Ohio) and Patrick J. Toomey (Pa.), Democratic Reps. James Clyburn (S.C.), Xavier Becerra (Calif.) and Chris Van Hollen (Md.), and Republican Reps. Dave Camp (Mich.), Jeb Hensarling (Texas) and Fred Upton (Mich.).

The lineup doesn’t give particular reason for optimism on poker’s prospects. Upton, Clyburn, Becerra and Van Hollen all have grades of “B” in the PPA’s congressional ratings, Kyl and Camp have grades of “F,” and the rest are unknowns.

“The people holding the cards I think will be Kyl and Reid,” Pappas said. “Even though Reid is not on the commission, he appointed people who are. If Kyl and Reid can compromise on a deal to include online poker, I think it can happen. It’s handing Congress revenue without raising taxes, which is exactly what they’re looking for.”

Read more: http://www.pokernews.com/news/2011/08/debt-super-committee-could-hold-key-online-poker-legislation-10874.htm