Texas Poker Bill to Get Its House Vote Austin game violently robbed
As Kevin noticed early this AM (before my post from yesterday doubting the notion went live), Texas’ HB 222 has moved out of the Calendars Committee and is scheduled for a vote on the House floor tomorrow … which means it really should happen by Tuesday at the latest. Woot! Started to get worried there for a bit, but thanks to readers like you and probably the PPA and many others helping the capitol hallway soldiers … The People of Texas, man! … Step 3 of 6 has been successfully completed.
Step 1: Introduce bill
Step 2: Pass through committee
Step 3: Calendars committee
Step 4: House vote
Step 5: Senate vote
Step 6: Governor’s sig
You can see we still have a long ways to go, but Steps 4 and 5 have to be done for sure by May 23, so this is it … we’re about to see if our hard work first steps in the process properly position us to make it through the next all-important three. And by all means, we have to go undefeated … one loss and we’re dead.
Go here or here to send the whole House of Representatives an email letting them know you hear they’ll be voting on HB 222, and that you will really admire them for seeing the sensibility of this legislation.
Meanwhile, as a reminder why this bill is important, RobD in Austin lets us know:
To put a final nail into the coffin of [any] argument against HB222, I was at a Austin poker game last night and we got robbed at gun point (5/7/09, early morning). It was in a nice neighborhood and is known to regulars as FPC. At least two people got beat up. We’re all lucky to be alive. The Travis county sherrif was called and filed a report.
pinkerton says:
May 7th, 2009 at 12:44pm
Is this the final house vote or just the second reading? I’m not too politically savvy, but I thought there were three readings.
http://www.house.state.tx.us/resources/glossary.htm
“The second reading of a bill is the first point in the process when the entire membership of a chamber has the opportunity to debate the bill and amend it by majority vote. The third reading of a bill is the next point in the process when the entire membership of a chamber may debate a bill and the final opportunity the members of a chamber have to offer amendments to the bill.”
DanM says:
May 7th, 2009 at 12:46pm
I’m not sure … will try to find out the answer.
pokerpolitics says:
May 7th, 2009 at 2:41pm
What chance does it realistically have of passing? Is there a chance in hell Perry will sign this?
Lavigne In Austin says:
May 7th, 2009 at 2:55pm
this is the second reading. 3rd readings are generally perfunctory unless it is a highly controversial measure.
The governor doesn’t have to sign it for it to become law. He can either sign it, let it become law without his signature or veto it.
DanM says:
May 7th, 2009 at 4:14pm
so there you have it. thanks mike, for filling us in.
nice job at the capitol, btw … you know, assuming you had something to do with it all.
tommytwotoes says:
May 8th, 2009 at 6:46am
fingers crossed that it passes the vote and that perry ignores it and doesnt veto. we know he wont sign it.
pokerpolitics says:
May 8th, 2009 at 6:53am
Only four tables? No Free alcohol?
Is anyone even gonna show up to play.
DanM says:
May 8th, 2009 at 7:40am
The no free alcohol may just be something you have to deal with. Do poker players really care about alcohol, or at least free alcohol?
From what I understand, WinStart now serves booze … not sure whether or not they charge. (I think they do.)
As to the four tables part … just keep in mind that as Texas votes today (or Monday), Florida will also be voting on whether or not to add true NL cash games, and to up the max on tourney buy-ins to $1,000. That’s still not a 10k … but steps in the right direction.
With that in mind, I think the strategy is to pass the 4-table law, and then when setting up the new poker rooms say, oops, that’s a typo! We meant to say 40!
Kevin Mathers says:
May 8th, 2009 at 7:52am
A previous part of the legislation limited it to 10x the max buyin, which would be $1,000 but that has been removed.
pinkerton says:
May 8th, 2009 at 9:45am
I personally am happy with the bars being left out of this bill, although I would like the 4 table part to change. I’d much rather visit an actual cardroom at a track, complete with floor staff and professional dealers, and security than the local pub. I’ll drive the hour extra for that luxury.
The free alcohol part I could also care less about. That was my big ‘whaaaaaaat?’ moment when I played in California last year… you have to pay for your booze, but any table over $100 buy-in was free food instead which was awesome. I think I just put on 3 pounds thinking about it actually.
Kevin Mathers says:
May 8th, 2009 at 11:08am
Nice to see the TX House deal with important issues, like their first annual Wii bowling tournament.
DanM says:
May 8th, 2009 at 11:58am
are you watching somewhere? i’ve been clicking the link but getting nothing:
http://www.house.state.tx.us/fx/av/live/extlive80kchamber.ram
Kevin Mathers says:
May 8th, 2009 at 12:01pm
Try opening it in Winamp
Kevin Mathers says:
May 8th, 2009 at 12:07pm
And there’s this…
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/politics/entries/2009/05/08/menendez_says_poker_proposal_p.html