This week on Eye on Politics, Jack Fink discusses the pros and cons of legalizing mobile sports betting with former Governor Rick Perry.
Two other congressmen from Texas’s northern districts join him to discuss the new balance of power in the House of Representatives.
Texans can now bet on sports using their mobile devices
Legislators in the state are busy preparing for the new legislative session that will begin in the new year.
Sports leagues and betting sites are making a renewed effort to improve their chances of getting mobile sports betting legalized in Texas.
Ex-Governor Rick Perry has been hired as a high-profile advocate for the Texas Sports Betting Alliance.
A measure is being drafted to authorize mobile or online sports betting for the forthcoming legislative session.
There are several advertisements for online sportsbooks whenever you watch a sporting event on television.
However, while 35 states allow you to gamble on a game or match via your mobile device, Texas is not one of them.
Perry has stated that he was initially against the plan but now backs it in Texas.
Safeguards for couples who choose to marry inside their own sex
Legislation to legalize same-sex marriage and overturn the Defense of Marriage Act, which now only recognizes marriages between men and women, has been proposed in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
After the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives introduced legislation earlier this year.
Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in a dissenting opinion that the Supreme Court should rethink its decision to provide same-sex couples the freedom to marry everywhere in the country.
Democrats could get their plan through the House with the help of Republicans, and the proposal had early support from a majority in the U.S. Senate.
The law does not mandate that states provide licenses to same-sex couples seeking to get married, but it does mandate that states recognize such weddings when they occur in other jurisdictions.
Additionally, the bill protects religious freedoms by not revoking the tax-exempt status of churches and colleges that refuse to recognize homosexual marriage and by not requiring them to offer services during marriage ceremonies.
Congressional backers are pushing for a vote on the bill within the next several weeks, while Democrats still hold a majority in the House.
After a vote in the U.S. Senate, the bill will be sent back to the House for further consideration.
North Texas Representatives Respond to Power Balance Change
For the new session of Congress that will begin in early January, Republicans have regained the majority.
To get a sense of how North Texas representatives from both parties are responding to the recent power change, Jack talked to two of their colleagues.
Fourth District Republican Congressman Pat Fallon has stated that securing the border is his top concern now that his party is in charge.
But he knows that achieving his aims will be challenging even if his party is in power:
“The government is now split. At least we’re back where we belong, with a voice in the discussion.”
Marc Veasey, a Democrat representing California’s 33rd Congressional District, has expressed his desire for a bipartisan approach to border security.
“I’ve been a huge proponent of making sure we increase our border security by spending our funds wisely,” he added.
Investment in technology to scan entering vehicles for possibly harboring migrants was one of the border security measures he mentioned.
In addition, he stressed the importance of fixing the system itself.
However, he claims that Republicans have historically been unwilling to engage with Democrats on this topic, making it unlikely that they will do so now that they are in control.
Meanwhile, Fallon claimed that President Joe Biden and the House Democrats were hesitant to negotiate.
They were “not interested in discussing anything,” he stated. To paraphrase, “I don’t think that’s the right approach to rule for the American people.”
Both Representatives said they would support Joe Biden for president again in 2024. However, their reasons were different.
He’s done a fantastic job, Veasey remarked. I believe he has an excellent plan for the United States.
For his part, Fallon believes a Biden candidacy would benefit his party. In his opinion, “President Biden should run again,” he stated.
As in, “Because I think he’s going to get beaten.”
Source: CBS News