The PPA has close to 50,000 members in Texas. The TCPA is, in comparison, a fledgling organization.

Their annual meeting also included a no rake tournament. The winner took home close to $3k and second pocketed about $1,500.

Officers elected for the next year are Bennett Flanagan, President; Vernon Harrison Secretary and General Councel, and Roy “Tex” Thompson, Vice President.

To learn more about TCPA log on to www.texascardplayersassociation.org and become a member.

The PPA is making a concerted effort at helping state efforts in addition to their national work. I think Texas will see the benefit of their aid during the 2009 legislative session. Should be fun!

You can check out the commercials below if I did this right:

In the meantime, I have been appointed as the Texas State Director for the Poker Players Alliance (PPA). The PPA is beginning to work individual states and I believe that what we are doing in Texas will serve as a model for other states.

Currently we are working on individual U.S. congressional districts. So, today I ask if any Pokerati readers live in Texas Congressional District 32. You can see the district boundaries by looking here — it’s mostly parts of Dallas, Richardson, Irving, Addison, and the Park Cities. If so, please send an email here.

More news to come I’m sure. As always, thanks for all of your help.

The poker bill (HB 3186) indeed died this session. We most likely will not have legal poker in Texas before 2009. That’s the bad news.

There is much more good news though. Before this session, legal poker was little more than an intangible wish. It is a lot closer to a reality now. Our bill explicitly outlined a workable system for legal poker. Because of this, we gained a lot of legislative support as the session wore on and legislators could study our proposal. This gives us a huge leg up next session. Rather than explaining how the bill works, we will be able to be considered alongside a number of other revenue generating proposals.

We got a lot farther than most predicted. We did win a vote in committee and in the Calendars committee. We were even set on the house calendar. This is great considering the fact that the state didn’t need the extra revenue this year. Unfortunately the clock ran out on us despite having enough votes lined up in the State House to pass it. We even had a Senate sponsor ready to pick it up.

We had a great media day on the day of our committee hearing. The story was picked up by press all over the state and even CNN and some foreign outlets.

Because of all the work we did this session, we have something that the idea of legal poker never had in Texas: Credibility. With this new asset, we can continue the fight.

We also made some good new allies this session. The bill sponsor, Representative Jose Menendez is determined to re-file the bill next session. The Poker Players Alliance helped us quite a bit, and the Texas Card Players Association is steadily growing in membership.

In the interim, we have much work to do. We need to:

1) Raise money for the Poker PAC
2) Get involved in elections
3) Grow our mailing list
4) Find more allies

I’ll be in touch with a more specific gameplan after the WSOP. I will be in Las Vegas the last week of this month for meetings, strategy sessions and a little R&R. If you are going to be there then, let me know as we may have a small event up there to let the rest of the world know what a good thing we have going here.

Before I signoff, there are a some people that need public thanking:

Dan Michalski has been an invaluable volunteer partner in this effort since the beginning. Michele Lewis, Clonie Gowen and Erick Lindgren all trekked to Austin to testify and do media interviews, and for that I am grateful as we got some amazing press that week.

Michael Bolcerek of the PPA has been very helpful and even let us blast his membership list with updates.

Finally, thank you to Texas poker players for all the encouragement and, more importantly, for contacting your legislators.

We have planted the seeds for a true grassroots movement in Texas. These are rare and very powerful.

Stay tuned,

Mike Lavigne
Treasurer, Texas Poker PAC
Texas State Director, Poker Players Alliance

The Poker Players Alliance is helping with this fundraiser for US Congressman Charlie Gonzalez (D-San Antonio). The PPA has been a reliable ally in our fight to bring poker back to Texas, so lets help them bring online poker back to our country:

You are invited to celebrate Congressman Charlie Gonzalez’ 62nd Birthday at…

CASINO POLITICO
A Vegas Style Political Fundraising Event with Congressman Charlie Gonzalez

Thursday, May 31, 2007
5:30pm – 9:00pm
The Spire at Sunset Station
St. Paul Square – 230 Center Street – San Antonio

Casino Politico Sponsorship Levels
$ 62 – Jr Secret Agent – Admission for 1 person (purchase playing chips at the door)
$ 250 – Agent Q – Admission for 2 persons and $ 50 worth of playing chips
$ 500 – Agent M – Admission for 4 persons and $100 worth of playing chips
$1,000 – 00’ Agent – Admission for 6 persons and $ 200 worth of playing chips
$2,300 – Goldfinger – Admission for 8 persons and $ 500 worth of playing chips

To RSVP or for more information, call
210-886-9229 in San Antonio

Paid for by the Charles A. Gonzalez Congressional Committee.

Lets bring the vitriol down a notch and look at the big picture here. I’ll do a proper post-mortem later, but for now lets remember a few things:

1) All good bills take time to pass. I was one of the primary organizers behind the legislation to give Texas teachers paid health insurance. That took us about 4 1/2 years in a time when the state was pretty flush with cash. Not because we did anything wrong, not because the system doesn’t work, but because that is just how long it takes to tell everyone what you want to do and why. We are WAY ahead of the curve on this one.

2) Nobody expected a bill this good to get filed…much less out of committee, through calendars and given a slot on the floor.

3) Our bill didn’t die because legislators don’t like/want poker. Our bill died because there were some major bad bills ahead of it that legislators didn’t want to get to. That is just the way it goes. Frankly, we are probably better off that some of those bills didn’t get voted on.

So, where does that leave us? That leaves us with about 2 1/2 weeks left of session. The possibility does still exist that we could amend our language onto another eligible bill that has already made it through one chamber. I’ll spare y’all the procedural civics lesson for now, but it is a possibility.

If that doesn’t work, we have 1 1/2 years to get ready to do this again. That isn’t very long. We will need to build up a better organization, raise money and stand together until then.

Stay tuned. The fatcats may be singing, but the fat lady isn’t even getting warmed up.

Our bill, HB 3186, is on the House General Calendar. The deadline for hearing this bill on the floor of the House is Thursday night. However, The House of Representatives is backed up pretty bad and the legislative carnage is evident already.

We feel good about our chances if we can get a vote, but at this point there is no guarantee that will happen.

The next few nights in the Texas House will be very late as they try to work through their calendar, but every time a contentious bill comes up for debate and one side begins to stall (or “chub” as it is referred to at the Capitol) bills at the end of the calendar become less likely to pass.

We are still in this thing, and frankly we’ve gotten farther than anyone thought we would.

In the meantime, continue to email your legislators. A good citizen recently posted this site and I encourage you to take advantage of it to contact your legislators: http://www.legalizepokerintexas.com/

Stay tuned, Thursday will be a very late night!

The biggest threat to our little bill is that the House of Representatives is just on this side of a total meltdown over totally unrelated issues. The Capitol Letters blog is a pretty good one if you want to learn more about that.

We have to have our bill heard on the floor of the House by Thursday if it is to continue on to the Senate. This is doable, but we need to keep applying pressure.

A Pokerati reader created a web page to make that even easier. GO THERE NOW!

Your team has been busy…and successful. We anticipate it being voted out of committee very soon, but we need every poker player in Texas to do something between now and Monday afternoon. Call the legislators on the committee and let them know you support the regulation of poker, specifically HB 3186.

When you call, please remember a few things:

1) Be nice
2) Tell them specifically you support HB 3186
3) Ask them to support HB 3186 too

It will only take about 30 seconds a call and there are 9 members of the committee.

We are very close to getting this bill to the floor of the House, where we believe we may have enough votes to pass this thing.

Hopefullly, I’ll be updating you with some very good news on Monday night!

There are way too many people to thank for the success we had yesterday and its a little early to pat ourselves on the back just yet, but please know that the Texas Poker PAC, PPA and Texas Cardplayers Association are in collusion right now and working well as a team.

Our witnesses testified perfectly and were really patient as we were delayed about 6 hours. There are worse things in the world than being holed up in a hotel conference room with Clonie and Michele…not to mention two Poker Hall of Famers (Lyle Berman and Crandall Addington) and Erick Lindgren. I even learned that there is such a thing as “Perfect Chinese” poker, though none of it was on display there.

The bill was left pending in committee which is standard operating procedure for major bills and even most smaller ones.

Michele already recapped much of the action and i’m sure Dan will be doing so as well when he’s done gloating over his half victory in last night’s drinky rules debate…

We have a really good chance at passage of the poker bill this year. Admitedly, I didn’t even think our chances would be this good at this early stage in the fight.

WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW!

Call and email your State Representative and ask them to support the Texas Poker Act, HB 3186 by Menendez. Click Here to find out who your Representative is and to get their contact info.

We need you to do this right now! We will be polling members next week to see where we stand so please let them know you are out there today. If you get a machine leave a message and call back tomorrow or send an email or do both. We want to make it known that there are a lot of us, we vote and we want poker.

Stay tuned, we are just getting started here…

As always, you should feel free to contribute to the effort monetarily by joining the Texas Poker PAC.

PS. Does Dan play the same “questionable” hands in Dallas or does he just save that crap for when he plays us Austin donkeys?

Dear Texas Poker Player,

As you know, the Poker Players Alliance is fighting on your behalf in Washington, D.C. and at the state level to defend your right to play poker. The fight for legal, safe and fair poker is taking place here in Texas right now.

The Texas Poker PAC is an ally of the PPA and has worked hard to get great legislation introduced that will regulate and expand legal poker in Texas! House Bill HB 3186 was filed by Representative Jose Menendez of San Antonio. This will have a public hearing on Tuesday, April 3rd in the House Committee on Licensing and Administrative Procedures and poker in the great state of Texas needs your support.

This is a unique opportunity to have your voice heard in support of the game you love! Testifying in favor of the bill will be some high profile folks like Gavin Smith, Erick Lindgren, Lyle Berman, Dallas DA Craig Watkins and others.

Please join us in Austin on the afternoon of April 3rd to make your voice heard! The hearing will be held in the Capital Extension Building (North side of the Capitol) Room E2.030 (3rd Level Downstairs) at approximately 2 PM. I would love you to join me and other members of the PPA and stand up for Poker in Texas!

If you cannot make it to Austin then, please click here to send an email or call the committee members’ Austin offices. Here is a list of Committee members with their e-mails and phone numbers. We encourage you to call for poker in Texas.

House Committee on Licensing and Administrative Procedures

Ismael “Kino” Flores (D- Mission) Chairman
(512) 463-0704
Kino.Flores@house.state.tx.us

Charlie Geren (R- Houston)
(512) 463-0610
charlie.geren@house.state.tx.us

Carl Isett (R-Lubbock)
(512) 463-0676
carl.isett@house.state.tx.us

Tony Goolsby (R-Dallas)
(512) 463-0454
tony.goolsby@house.state.tx.us

Delwin Jones (R- Lubbock)
(512) 463-0542
delwin.jones@house.state.tx.us

Senfronia Thompson (D- Houston)
(512) 463-0720
senfronia.thompson@house.state.tx.us

Mike “Tuffy” Hamilton (R- Mauriceville)
(512) 463-0412
mike.hamilton@house.state.tx.us

Borris Miles (D- Houston)
(512) 463-0518
borris.miles@house.state.tx.us

Chente Quintanilla (D- El Paso)
(512) 463-0613
chente.quintanilla@house.state.tx.us

You can even cut and paste the following text into your email or use this as a template for your phone call:

–Start Cut Here –

Dear Representative,

I am a Texas voter and I support the expansion and regulation of legal poker in Texas. Poker is a game of skill that can bring hundreds of millions of dollars to the state both directly and indirectly. Please support HB 3186 filed by Representative Menendez when it is heard in the Licensing and Administrative Procedures Committee on April 3rd.

Thank you in advance for joining with the tens of thousands of law abiding poker players in Texas who support this legislation.

–Stop Cut Here–

Please visit the Texas Poker PAC today, http://www.texaspokerpac.com/ and signup for their email list. They will keep you updated on the bill progress and what you can do to finally bring Hold’em back to Texas!

Regards,

Michael Bolcerek, President

Poker Players Alliance

I think this is good news! The hearing is set for next Tuesday. They may not vote on it that day, but they will take all pertinent testimony at that time. i hope to have a new copy of the bill soon.

The PPA has agreed to help us publicize our progress and the hearing. They will be sending an email I’m writing to their members in Texas (between 10-20,000) this week.

Stay tuned….

Attention Texas Poker Players!

Legislation has been filed in the Texas House of Representatives that would allow real poker in Texas!
The bill is HB 3186 by Jose Menendez of San Antonio.

Highlights of the bill include:

• 4 live and/or electronic, raked tables allowed in each establishment that meets requirements
• Lottery Commission decides how many tables are allowed in each racetrack
• Charitable poker enabled
• Mandatory dealer training and licensing
• Licensing for distributors of commercial poker equipment
• Money raised will be dedicated to necessary state services
• Criminal penalties for dishonest operators
• Raises over a billion dollars for state services

The Texas Poker PAC has worked hard to get a great poker bill filed, and to work with professional lobbyists and media experts to help us pass it. We can’t do it without your help though.

This bill was just filed and it will be an uphill battle to pass it, but it is possible. Here is how you can help!

• Send Representative Menendez an email thanking him for filing this landmark legislation!
• Join the Texas Poker PAC today!
• Commit to coming to Austin for our committee hearing (POSSIBLY TUESDAY, APRIL 3!).
• Forward this email to your poker friends!

Visit WWW.TEXASPOKERPAC.COM and Sign Up for Updates Today

This is going to be a tough, potentially long fight. I’ll begin posting more regularly as our bill moves through the Legislature. The first step will be to get a hearing in the House committee after it is referred. HB 3186 should be referred to committee early next week.

When the hearing date approaches we will need as many folks as possible to congregate at the capitol and attend the hearing. Details to come on that.

In the meantime, the press release is below. Feel free to send Representative Menendez an email thanking him for filing such a great bill.

My html skill is akin to that of a 5-year-old, so please pardon my lack of fancy formatting:

For Immediate Release: Contact: Mike Lavigne
March 8, 2007 512-917-7614

Poker Bill Dealt to Texas House

Austin, TX// Legislation was filed in the Texas House today seeking to regulate the game of poker in Texas. HB 3186 defines poker as a game of skill and lays out a comprehensive set of parameters for the game thousands of Texans play every day. The bill was filed by Representative Jose Menendez (D) of San Antonio.

“This legislation could raise over a billion dollars over the next biennium for state coffers while bringing the game out of legal limbo and into the light,” said Mike Lavigne, treasurer of the Texas Poker PAC. “Texas would finally be able to benefit from rise of Texas Hold’em”

HB 3186 would allow up to four live or electronic poker tables at establishments meeting stringent requirements and task the Lottery Commission with deciding the number of tables allowed at racetracks.

Additionally, the legislation specifically allows charitable poker, also overseen by the Lottery Commission. HB 3186 would mean bigger and more successful regular charitable tournaments benefiting a variety of important causes.

“Charitable poker means more Texans win,” said Lavigne. “Texas charities are losing out on millions of dollars due to the antiquated laws governing the game.”

Despite recent federal attempts to eliminate online poker, the game continues to grow in popularity worldwide. As poker related television programming continues to spread in popularity, so do the many new tournaments that attract tourists and visitors. States like California and Connecticut have long been reaping the benefits of the poker boom.

“We applaud Representative Menendez for taking the time to compile such a thorough piece of legislation,” said Lavigne. “This bill gives poker back to Texans and the state oversight over the millions of dollars already moving across Texas tables.”

Highlights of HB 3186:
• 4 live and/or electronic, raked tables allowed in each establishment that meets requirements
• Lottery Commission decides how many tables are allowed in each racetrack
• Charitable poker enabled
• Mandatory dealer training and licensing (inexpensive)
• Licensing for distributors of commercial poker equipment
• Money raised will be dedicated to necessary state services
• Criminal penalties for dishonest operators
• Raises over a billion dollars for state services

The Texas Poker PAC is a grassroots organization created to encourage legal, safe and accessible poker in Texas.
###
Join Today!
www.texaspokerpac.com

Here are the Highlights:
-4 live and/or electronic, raked tables allowed in each establishment that meets requirements
-Lottery Commission decides how many tables are allowed in each racetrack
-Charitable poker enabled
-Mandatory dealer training and licensing (inexpensive)
-Licensing for distributors of commercial poker equipment
-Money raised will be dedicated to necessary state services
-Criminal penalties for dishonest operators

The bill will be tweaked as we go along, so if you read it and have a concern don’t panic- please let me know via email. Your support is appreciated.
When it is filed and available online I’ll link to it.

More to come…

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many of you in Dallas over the last year as we have gotten the Texas Poker PAC off the ground. Statewide legislative efforts like the Poker PAC take time to organize if they are to be done right, and I appreciate all the help and contributions thus far.

I have an extensive background in partisan politics, campaign and legislative strategy and public relations. I am also registering as an independent lobbyist this session. My client list is varied, but i will have a client (other than the PAC) that has an interest in the fight for poker.

I am also a board member of the Texas Cardplayers Association. The TCPA was formed by a group of poker players in Austin, San Antonio and the Hill Country. Unlike the PAC, we are a non-profit seeking to expand poker in Texas.

The PAC and the TCPA are working together to give Texas poker players a unified voice. The TCPA is currently seeking to build up members, and the PAC is focusing on message and legislative strategy. If you care about poker being legal to play in Texas, I encourage you all to visit the websites of these young organizations and seriously consider joining up now.

I have had several conversations with the good folks in charge at the PPA. They deal mainly with Federal issues at this point, and have their hands full with that from what I can tell. It appears that at this point in time, we are on our own to bring Hold’em to Texas.

The Texas Legislative Session begins in early January and we need to be ready. This post is already getting long, so I’ll cover more ground in my next one. There have been some questions that i can quickly answer though:

1) Yes, there will be a bill this session to expand and regulate poker in Texas. I’ve seen a draft and it is a great start.
2) Just because there will be a bill doesn’t mean it will pass. These things sometimes take a couple of sessions (4 years).
3) A bill undergoes many many changes as it moves through the legislative sausage grinder. No bill of any importance ever looks the same when it passes as it did when it was filed…so please don’t panic if you see something you don’t like when it is filed.
4) Please share your opinions with me. My email address is info@texaspokerpac.com
5) The best way rank and file poker players can aid in the Texas fight is to join one or more of the organizations I’ve mentioned above.
6) Stay Tuned!

I’m new to blogging so please forgive my lack of fancy formatting. I’ll be writing again soon…