- Podcasts
Podcasts - Videos
Videos - Policy Issues
Policy Issues - About
About
Bipartisan Push to Pass Sports Betting Bill
It doesn’t look like there are enough Republican votes to pass the online sports gambling or NIL plans headed before the Wisconsin Senate this week, but that doesn’t mean they won’t pass.
Former Senate President Chris Kapenga, R-Delafield, said on UpFront over the weekend that he is a “hard no” on the online sports betting plan.
If a second Republican joins Kapenga, that would mean Republicans would not have the all important 17 votes that it usually takes to move any legislation forward.
"Precedent has always been you've got to have the rule of 17, if it's Republican or Democrat votes," Kapenga said on UPFRONT. "So I hope the majority leader doesn't go there. I think it's very dangerous for him if he does go there, so I just hope it doesn't happen."
Kapenga said if Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu calls the sport gambling legislation without 17 yes votes, it may be the end of LeMahieu's time as leader.
"Historically, usually a majority leader does not come back if he breaks the rule of 17," Kapenga added. "So I hope the majority leader takes that into account as he looks at it."
There also don't appear to be enough Republican votes for the plan to send the University of Wisconsin $15 million a-year to offset Name, Image, and Likeness costs.
But if there aren't enough Republican votes, there may be plenty of Democratic votes.
Democratic Senate Leader Dianne Hesselbein said there's plenty of support on her side of the aisle.
"I think a lot of us are in favor of this right now," Hesselbein said. "Sports betting is happening in the state of Wisconsin, but it's happening with these companies from our state, out of the country. And I think it makes sense to have our Native American tribes be able to benefit."
This is the last scheduled week for the Wisconsin Senate. After this, lawmakers are not due back til after the election in November, or even early next year.
Interested in the content of this Article?
Reach out to the MacIver Institute to aquire more information
