Harrah Reid lassoing his casino payback to the tax bill

It appears  Harry Reid found a target for his payola Pottersville project I mentioned on Saturday.  Majority leader Harrah Reid thinks it would be swell to lasso it to that controversial tax bill:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is trying to use the tax cut package President Barack Obama brokered with Republicans to legalize online poker, POLITICO has learned — a move that could further complicate the deal Obama announced Monday.

Already, the online poker proposal has exposed the Nevada Democrat to charges of flip-flopping on a controversial issue, as well as using his Senate leadership position to repay big casino interests that helped him win reelection in a hard-fought campaign against Republican Sharron Angle last month.

How much of a payback would this little Pottersville proposal be, you ask:

“The House Republicans will go crazy if this is in the bill,” said one senior congressional aide, declaring it “a total, 100 percent payback” for the support Reid received from gambling interests. The aide asserted that lobbyists for the Las Vegas-based casino operator Harrah's, now known as Caesars Entertainment Corp., even helped write the legislation.

“You could call him ‘Harrah Reid’ at this point,” the aide quipped.

Once again, Reid's office is silent on this proposal.  What can they possibly say other than they're just really grateful Harrah's execs recognized “Waking up to the defeat of Harry Reid Nov. 3 will be devastating for our industry’s future.”  Reid is so grateful he let them write their own payback.  Where would we be without Harry Reid?  His bumbling guardian angel has the answer.

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