On May 8th, 2009, Texas Governor Rick Perry tightened his grip on his dictatorship on the State of Texas when he threatened to veto House Bill 222. What is HB 222?
Texas House Bill 222 was introduced by Rep. Jose Menendez of San Antonio that “related to the authorization and regulation of poker gaming and the duties of the Texas Lottery Commission; providing civil and criminal penalties”. In other words, it would have allowed for legal poker rooms in Texas operating under the authority of the Texas Lottery. The poker rooms would pay a licensing fee to operate legally in the State of Texas. It would have provided a safe and legal place for all poker players in Texas to enjoy a poker game and not have to worry about being robbed or arrested.
HB 222 was passed out of committee on April 14, 2009 and was placed on the General Calendar on May 8, 2009. When a bill is placed on the General Calendar, it comes to the floor of the House for a reading and a vote. You know, the democratic way of doing things.
To pass a bill in the House, a majority vote is needed. Despite the fact that there were enough votes to pass HB 222, our beloved Governor issued a warning that he would exercise a veto in the event that the bill passed. The reason he did this is that, while there was a majority vote that would pass the bill, the House would need 2/3 majority to override the veto, which the House did not have. There you go. Problem solved.
But does a solution lie in an old opinion given by then Texas Attorney General Jim Mattox? In Opinion No. JM-1267, he summarizes that, “The legislature, without amending section 47 of Article III of the Texas Constitution, may amend Chapter 47 of the Penal Code to authorize the holding of those gaming activities that do not comprise the elements of a lottery………….” In other words, change the penalty, not the law. Now most people think that to allow poker, we need to change our Constitution. Changing the Constitution requires a 2/3 majority vote. However, a vote to amend Chapter 47 of the Texas Penal Code only requires a simple majority.
So where does this leave the poker players? Out of luck, for now. Poker players who love to play Texas Hold ‘Em will not be able to play in the state that the game is named after. While poker is enjoying a surge of popularity that is unprecedented, poker players in Texas have to be content with driving to Winstar Casino in Oklahoma and Harrah’s and other casinos in Louisiana. Come to think of it, I wonder how much in “contributions” from these casinos made their way to the Governor’s pocket about the same time he was threatening a veto.
What are his concerns about poker? Does he worry about “gambling”? Why would he, when Joe Blow working minimum wage can go down to the corner store and buy a lottery ticket, gambling that he might actually be the 1 in 20 million. Maybe it’s the headache he has from the haranguing of Suzii Paynter, the director of the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission, screeching in his ear that we will all become degenerates who will become addicts and go broke when we lose all our money. Maybe he can’t decide whether to work for the gambling interests, which gave him over $793,000 dollars in 2007-08. or the religious right, who view gambling as sin, even as they yell out “B-4” in the parish hall.
Sure, there are bigger issues that need to be addressed. But if we can’t even play a game of cards, for heaven’s sake, without fear of somebody pointing a gun at us, police issue or otherwise, then maybe we need to make a change. It’s time to make your voice heard. Why not contact the Governor directly through the link below, and let him know that you will do everything that you can do to prevent him from being re-elected. I, for one, would rather have someone who will work within a democracy rather than some guy that has forgotten who actually counts in this state. The Voters.
http://www.governor.state.tx.us/contact/assistance.aspx
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