Well, it was a great idea while it lasted.  Senator Ron Wyden had the brilliant idea of regulating and legalizing online casinos and using the tax revenue as a means to fund the proposed universal health care reform.  The idea was is pretty solid as online casinos have the ability to pull in billions of dollars each year.  It would only make a dent in funding health care but a significant dent.

Regardless of how great the idea was, Senator Wyden has chosen to withdraw the proposal.  It was just to much controversy for one bill.  Universal healthcare alone has people fanatical supporters squaring off against people prepared to compare President Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler.  Meanwhile online casinos is causing just as much of a stir as usual with people convinced it would be a great additional source of tax revenue going head to head against conservatives convinced it will send problem gambling rates through the roof.

“The last thing Senator Wyden wants to do is make it more difficult to expand subsidies for working families by introducing a new contentious issue to the debate,” said Jennifer Hoelzer, Senator Wyden’s director of communications.

“So when he offers the amendment, he will do it with other funding mechanisms.”

Opponents of online casinos and universal healthcare are of course in support of Wyden’s decision to pull the proposal.  

“Changing the laws regarding online gaming is a significant detour from healthcare, a detour that Senator Reid agrees is not appropriate at this time,” responded Regan LaChapelle, spokesman for Senator Harry Reid's office.