The casino industry, which backed Leach's proposal last year, says it needs to review it before taking a position. Whether it becomes the vehicle for Internet gambling is probably more for the new leadership of the committee to determine. Leach's bill passed the House Banking Committee by voice vote last June, but did not come up for a final vote on the House floor. Leach remains on the panel, now known as the House Financial Services Committee. Republican term limits forced him to surrender his chairmanship to Rep. Michael Oxley, R-Ohio.
Leach is now vice chairman of the panel's subcommittee on domestic monetary policy.
The credit card ban proposed by Leach is considered by some analysts to be more practical than a bill by Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., which would prohibit Internet gambling altogether. Others say Leach's bill contains the enforcement mechanism that could make an Internet gambling ban work. There was talk last year of merging the two bills but it never happened. Goodlatte spokeswoman Michelle Semones said she is not aware of plans to combine both bills this year.