One minute it’s there and the next it’s all gone. Isn’t that just like gambling? Yesterday we talked about Senator Ron Wyden’s proposed bill to legalize and regulate online gambling for the purposes of subsidizing health care costs. That bill has been pulled and the senator has moved on to greener pastures, looking for other ways to pay other people’s bills with other people’s money.

The reason seems to be that healthcare reform is controversial enough as it is and bringing online gambling to the table too is apparently tantamount to proposing abortion or euthanasia to help fund healthcare. And because current healthcare reform seems more about getting something passed than getting something passed that works, the last thing anybody wants to do is raise eyebrows.

“The last thing Senator Wyden wants to do is make it more difficult to expand subsidies for working families by introducing a new contentious issue to the debate,” said Jennifer Hoelzer, Wyden’s communications director. “So when he offers the amendment, he will do it with other funding mechanisms.”

“Changing the laws regarding online gaming is a significant detour from healthcare, a detour that Senator Reid agrees is not appropriate at this time,” said Regan LaChapelle, spokesman for Harry Reid.

Though Senator Wyden’s feet were cold enough to pull the bill, that didn’t stop others from voicing their support.

“Money’s money. If that’s the price we pay, that’s the price,” said Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.). “I would consider adding it.”

Barney Frank, who has been the poster child for legalized online gambling for quite some time now also agrees that the bill was a good idea. “It’s a great idea,” Frank said. “Why should we leave all that money untaxed?”

While I continue to hope that someday online gambling will be legalized in the US, I find it disturbing that the only reason the government will legalize it is for financial gain. Playing a game and doing as they wish with their own money (as long as it doesn’t harm anyone else) is or should be every American’s right. It’s a shame that those rights are now considered on their financial merits and not on the wishes and hopes of the country’s citizens. Just my two cents.

Tags: Barney Frank, Health Care, Health care reform, online casino, online casinos, online gambling, online poker, Ron Wyden

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