Sports leagues "continue to back the Internet Gambling
Prohibition Act, even though the bill's future looks grim
after it failed to pass a House vote Monday," according to
USA TODAY's Chris Jenkins. While the House could reconsider
the legislation, that seems "unlikely." NFL Senior
VP/Communications Joe Browne: "It's disappointing, but not
totally surprising." Jenkins: "With only two staffers in
Washington, the NCAA doesn't consider itself a major
lobbying force. It didn't spend a lot lobbying for this
bill and chose not to use sports figures' clout the way it
did with former" Univ. of NC men's basketball coach Dean
Smith and Univ. of CT men's basketball coach Jim Calhoun on
another gambling-related bill. NCAA Assistant Dir of
Federal Regulation Daniel Nestel: "Maybe, in retrospect, we
should have done that." But he said since a similar
Internet gambling bill passed the Senate last year, "there
didn't seem to be a need" (USA TODAY, 7/19).
MCCAIN WANTS A VOTE: In Las Vegas, Tony Batt reported
that U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) "pressed" Senate
leaders to call a vote on the "stalled" NCAA-backed bill
that would prohibit NV sports books from taking bets on
college games. Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS)
said that he was prepared to bring up the bill, but he would
need "unanimous consent," and there likely would be
objection from Senators Harry Reid (D-NV) and Richard Bryan
(D-NV) to block the vote. McCain: "I would allege that it
would be a vote of 98-2 through this United States Senate if
it came to a vote" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 7/17).
