Reid, Heller uneasy allies on web poker

Nevada's senators are becoming increasingly uneasy allies in the effort to legalize poker-playing over the Internet, an issue dear to the wallets of most casino corporations in the state.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., is looking for an opening to pass a web poker bill in the U.S. Senate, with Republican Sen. Dean Heller attempting to secure GOP support -- or at least commitments that Republican senators won't stand in the way.

The Reid-Heller relationship already is strained as Heller is fighting to hold his Senate seat and Reid is maneuvering to replace him with Rep. Shelley Berkley, a fellow Democrat.

Against that backdrop, Democrats are attempting to make web poker a test of Heller's effectiveness. In remarks to reporters, Democratic Senate aides have floated that the Nevada Republican had yet to show something for his efforts.

The stakes have been raised with reports that Reid has a bill that can be made ready to go (but has not yet been made public) as soon as he gets assurance he has the necessary votes. He considered but rejected trying to attach the gaming bill to cyber-security legislation moving to the Senate floor.

In a brief interview Thursday, Reid, the Senate majority leader, did not mention Heller by name but said he needs more Republican votes. According to Senate officials, at least 10 Republicans and probably more would be needed to reach 60 votes.

"I can't get Republicans," Reid said. "If we get some Republicans we will get it done."

Reid confirmed he was not targeting the cyber-security bill.

"I'll put it on something," he said. "Maybe I'll do it freestanding. If we get some Republicans we can do it a lot of different ways."

In a story published Friday by National Journal Daily, Heller said he was not going to be "put in a box" by Reid tactics.

"I will let Reid do all the talking," said Heller, who was interviewed earlier in the week. "He seems to like to do a lot of talking on this issue. And I'll continue to work and see what we can do to get something passed.

Heller told National Journal that web poker is Reid's issue to win or lose.

"We've got the majority leader who needs to pass this thing and couldn't pass it last year," Heller said. "So he's asking for my help this year."

Heller previously has said he had spoken to Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, and leadership deputies John Cornyn of Texas and Roy Blunt of Missouri.

So far, Heller and Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona are the only two Republicans publicly identified as supportive of the bill, which in addition to legalizing online poker reportedly would tighten laws over other forms of Internet gambling.

Members of the Poker Players Alliance who have been lobbying members of Congress for a web poker bill reported Saturday on an online forum that eight Republican senators are opposing legalization.

Two of them are Cornyn and Blunt. The others are Jeff Sessions and Richard Shelby of Alabama; John Boozman of Arkansas; Mark Kirk of Illinois; Jerry Moran of Kansas; and David Vitter of Louisiana.

Other Republican senators were reported either undecided or their position was unknown. There was no reported tally of Democratic senators.