Senate approves table games.

The state senate just approved the table games bill. I'll probably opine at length on this in the paper on Thursday. I still can't accept the fact that in West Virginia, poker is the intellectual property of the state.

It now goes to a conference committee to iron out some differences. From reading what they are, the differences appear to be minor.

But that may be a legal fiction that West Virginia lawmakers are fond of, like private clubs and nonintoxicating beer.

Democrats generally for, except for Bob Plymale and Evan Jenkins, who voted against. Republicans generally against. A few Republicans voted against, with the closest to here being Facemyer of Jackson County.

The AP notes that three Senate committee chairmen broke ranks with the Democratic Party to vote against the bill: Plymale (Education), Roman Prezioso (Health and Human Resources) and Helmick (Finance). John Unger of Berkeley County also voted against.