Internet gambling ban added to U.S. port security bill

[cynatnite]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congress was pushing on Friday to finish legislation that would boost security at U.S. ports, but at the last minute lawmakers added provisions to prohibit Internet gambling.

snip:
There were attempts on Friday to add other unrelated amendments, but apart from the Internet gambling provisions, the others were rejected, a top House leadership aide said.

Those rejected included an attempt to shield telephone companies from liability for privacy violations if they supply the U.S. government with access to customer records. This idea came from Alaskan Sen. Ted Stevens (news, bio, voting record), Republican sources said.

"Our bill is slimming down and I'm very pleased with the port security portions," said Rep. Dan Lungren, a California Republican and one of the key negotiators on the legislation.

Another proposed add-on that was rejected would have tightened security at courthouses and stiffened penalties for attacks on judges.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060930/pl_nm/security_congress_dc

[babylonsister]

1. That was Frist's baby. I wonder why he pushed so hard. nt