It’s a good bet that Las Vegas Sands Corporation owner Sheldon Adelson
 would do a lot to get the 2016 Republican convention to come to Las Vegas. The question is how high will the stakes go.  

Peter Overby’s NPR article , “Say Goodbye To The Taxpayer Funded Political Convention,” highlights the recently passed bill that will prohibit $18+ million in public funds from being used for each of the 2016 the national party conventions. President Obama is expected to sign the bill.  

Political MoneyLine’s earlier posting , “Corporations Can Expect To Pay More For Conventions,” points to corporate contributions as the likely source of funds to replace the loss of federal funds.  

Today is the deadline for groups supporting specific cities to submit bids to the Republican National Committee for the 2016 Republican convention. A Las Vegas Review-Journal article  indicated that the Las Vegas Host Committee is submitting an updated bid to host the convention at the Las Vegas convention center. The convention hosts committee may need to raise $50 to $75 million to cover the expenses.  

The Washington Post’s article , “Billionaire mogul Sheldon Adelson looks for mainstream Republican who can win in 2016,” indicated Adelson was lending his support to the Las Vegas bid.  

After spending $100+ million in the 2012 elections, billionaire Adelson, or his company, could easily underwrite the convention. He, or his company, might even consider it a lobbying expense for a policy to ban internet gambling. View Political MoneyLine’s posting , “Adelson’s Las Vegas Sands Hires Blanche Lincoln.”  

Update 3/27: Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, introduced legislation on Wednesday to reverse the Justice Department’s December 2011 decision to expand online gaming. The New York Times claims the Restoration of America’s Wire Act, H.R. 4301, was originally drafted by Adelson’s lobbyist.