Addiction Starts at a Very Young Age
The irony of this comic does not escape me:
(This should be our new answer to anything the anti-poker morality lobby throws our way.)
The irony of this comic does not escape me:
(This should be our new answer to anything the anti-poker morality lobby throws our way.)
Our non-friends at Texans Against Gambling told their influential members that they needed to combat big-time casino lobbying dollars supposedly pushing HB 222. However, they don’t tell you who received a lot of those gambling-interest dollars, nor that a some of them were being spent to defeat the bill.
By all means, our good poker friends in Oklahoma have contributed their fair share to keep Texans playing in their Indian nations … but frankly, it’s a very small percentage of the $7.6 million spent on gambling-related Texas politicking in 2007-08 — and they’re not exactly being hypocrites about any of it, save for maybe riding the coattails of those who are.
Amount
|
Recipient (Party) |
Tribe |
$35,000
|
Lt. Governor David Dewhurst(R) | Choctaw |
$25,000
|
Stars Over Texas PAC(R) | Choctaw |
$20,000
|
Lt. Governor David Dewhurst(R) | Chickasaw |
$15,000
|
TX Repub. Legislative Caucus(R) | Chickasaw |
$10,000
|
Attorney General Greg Abbott(R) | Choctaw |
$10,000
|
Sen. Kip Averitt(R) | Choctaw |
$10,000
|
Sen. Kim Brimer(R)* | Choctaw |
$10,000
|
Rep. Tom Craddick(R) | Chickasaw |
$10,000
|
Sen. Bob Deuell(R) | Choctaw |
$10,000
|
Sen. Kevin Eltife(R) | Choctaw |
$10,000
|
Sen. Chris Harris(R) | Choctaw |
$10,000
|
House Dem. Campaign Com.(D) | Chickasaw |
$10,000
|
Sen. Jane Nelson(R) | Choctaw |
$10,000
|
Sen. Tommy Williams(R) | Choctaw |
Click below for an even more interesting look at the Texas pols who taking the most gambling-industry dollars. I wonder how his morality-minded base feels about Gov. Rick Perry coming in at #2, with nearly $800k in gambling-interest love.
I swear this won’t tilt anybody … but here’s the alert sent out Thursday by Texans Against Gambling to generate enough support for a change of course that, frankly, I still don’t fully understand.
Via the fair-minded, conservative Off the Kuff …
TAG lies have been boldfaced:
Statement from Texans Against Gambling:
Weston Ware, legislative director for Texans Against Gambling, issued this statement today regarding House Bill 222, which legalizes poker, including electronic poker, in Texas. The bill was voted out of Calendars Committee on Thursday and will be scheduled for a floor vote.“This bill is not about legalizing poker games with friends around the kitchen table. It is a ploy by the pro-gambling industry to crack Texas’ constitutional ban against gambling by making the absurd argument that poker is not a game of chance, but of skill.
“The next time someone uses their skill as a player to get dealt three-of-a-kind, call me.
“HB 222, among other things, would allow electronic poker tables to operate 24/7 in bars and restaurants. These Class III gambling devices mimic the addictive qualities of slot machines based on the speed of play (a good player can go through as many as 12 hands a minute).They have the ability to keep players playing (many video-poker outlets are open 24 hours and it’s not unusual to hear of someone’s playing 36 hours straight). Also, the machines are designed to create the false perception that skill is involved in what is ultimately a game of chance.