AUSTIN–Sorry it took so long to get this Legislative Wrap-Up out, but I needed a little break.
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