I think this is a dandy time for ALL religious zealots to cool it.
<<WASHINGTON -- After months of preparation, Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., signaled last week he was ready to introduce a bill to ban Internet gambling.
"You'll know something on Tuesday," a Goodlatte aide said.
Tuesday became Sept. 11, the day terrorists killed thousands after hijacking four airplanes and attacking the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
"Last Tuesday's tragic events altered a lot of things, including legislative schedules," Goodlatte said Wednesday. "I plan to introduce Internet gambling legislation in the near future."
Goodlatte would not specify a date.
Before the terrorist attacks, legislation affecting the gambling industry already had stalled in Congress. Now, bills such as a measure to prohibit betting at Nevada sports books on college games, seem even less likely to be considered until next year at the earliest.
Supporters of the betting ban acknowledge this year's prospects look bleak.
"Obviously, the whole schedule has been affected by last week's events. We just don't know what's going to happen," said Mark Brown, chief of staff for the bill's leading Democratic sponsor in the House, Rep. Tim Roemer of Indiana.
While Frank Fahrenkopf, the industry's chief lobbyist in Washington, is not ready to declare the National Collegiate Athletic Association's betting ban proposal dead, he said the situation has shifted radically.
"The NCAA bill and Internet gaming legislation are clearly on the back burner now," he said. "Congress is facing one of its greatest challenges ever, and it's clear that the NCAA bill and other bills of that nature are not top priorities."
Those other bills include proposals to remove automated teller machines from gambling tables and increase the role of states in tribal gambling compacts.
"From everything I am hearing, I don't know if we will pass very much this year at all," said Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev. "We will probably pass appropriations bills and maybe an economic stimulus package but nothing controversial."
The Rev. Tom Grey, executive director of the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling, said he is concerned that the economic downturn may encourage casinos to expand into the Internet market.
"Obviously Congress is preoccupied with many other things, and that makes it incumbent on the Justice Department to do something (to prevent the expansion of Internet gambling)," Grey said.
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