Louisiana Poker Bill Fails - Kathleen Blanco Strikes Again

The Louisiana state legislature failed to pass a gambling law yesterday. The law would have expanded gambling into establishments with a liquor license.

Bars and private clubs would be allowed to organize poker tournaments one night a week. These establishments could not collect "juice" off of the action. The advantage to these businesses is it would drive customers to them on a slow night of the week, probably in the midweek sometime.

WARREN TRICHE

Representative Warren Triche was one of the outspoken supporters of the bill. Rep. Triche says that the bill will come before the legislator again. He says that 10 representatives were not present. Had they been, the bill would have passed.

The bill needed 53 votes to pass. Even without the 10 missing legislators, it gained 46 votes in a 48-46 contest. With such a close vote, it certainly wouldn't hurt to give it one more try at a later time.

I applaud Representative Triche for his work on behalf of this bill.

Meanwhile, Louisiana governor Kathleen Blanco is an outspoken opponent of a gambling expansion in her state. Blanco had suggested she might veto the gambling bill if it passed. Her threats have killed video poker bills in the past.

KATHLEEN BLANCO SARCASM

Well, maybe we should listen to Governor Blanco. She is a paragon of responsible government.

Her performance during the Hurricane Katrina Crisis was so inspiring that we should take her word on this one, too. If Kathleen Blanco says we shouldn't have gambling in Louisiana bars, then you know it's a bad thing.

Actually, I don't understand why politicians have to take these ridiculous stands. This would allow the local bar to hold a poker tournaments one night a week. Every Wednesday, The Hole-In-a-Wall Bar has a poker tournament. People can go enjoy themselves for a small buy-in fee.

There's no way people paying a small fee to enter a poker tournament is going to break people. If a gambler pays ten dollars to enter a bar tournament, that same gambler won't be blowing hundreds of dollars on a back room cash game.

The disappointing thing is that Kathleen Blanco is a Democrat. I guess Southern Democrats have to watch their P's and Q's or they end up getting voted out by those moderates who skew a little to the right. But, really, if screwing up the Katrina aftermath doesn't get Blanco voted out of office, then I don't figure much of anything will.

Maybe I'm wrong.

THE COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT

If you want to send Kathleen Blanco an e-complaint, her is a link to the Kathleen Blanco website.

OTHER GAMBLING LEGISLATION

Texas Gambling Law
Wexler and Berkley Gambling Bills

Louisiana Poker Bill Fails - Kathleen Blanco Strikes Again