Iowa Online Poker Run Of Luck Has Run Out

Online poker bill derailed. Sen. Jeff Danielson's, or SF 2257, bill on legalizing internet poker in Iowa appears to have ended its remarkable legislative journey, and according to the Republican committee chief Kraig Paulsen it failed in the House committee due to a 'general lack of interest'. But it was Paulsen himself who was disinclined to progress the bill further through his House State Government Committee, and therefore it is likely to run afoul of Friday's procedural deadline. Although the state Senate passed the bill earlier this week after a ten minute discussion, achieving a 29 to 20 bipartisan vote, all of a sudden on Thursday Paulsen commented there was little interest in the bill among his 60-strong GOP caucus. “What are we in? Week 10?” Paulsen asked. “I don't know if I've had three members mention this subject to me … until this week when the big hub-bub was.” What's more, he denied any pressure from House Republicans or the lobby to move the bill, saying there were just not enough GOP votes to move it forward. Paulsen also blamed it on the fact that receiving the bill on the final day of House action before the Legislature's funnel deadline did not give the chamber time to act on legalizing online poker. Rep. Peter Cownie, promised on Wednesday that he would schedule a committee meeting for late Thursday in anticipation of SF 2257 being read in when the House convened Thursday morning. Even though the bill was introduced, the State Government Committee failed to meet, therefore condemning the bill to failure. The Legislature's self-imposed deadline for non-money measures to clear one legislative chamber and a committee of the other to remain eligible for consideration this session was March 16.