to do with it." Abramoff was working closely with Tony Rudy, then Majority Whip Tom DeLay's Chief of Staff. In numerous emails, Rudy delivered inside information on the status of discussions of IGPA within the House Republican Caucus, and suggested strategies to defeat it. DeLay was normally a staunch opponent of gambling, but had not taken a position on the bill. Reverend Sheldon worked publicly to oppose the bill, holding numerous press conferences. On July 13, 2000, Sheldon met privately with DeLay. DeLay later announced his opposition to the bill. While the bill was under consideration in the House, a letter began circulating among congressman opposing the legislation, signed by Florida Governor Jeb Bush. The letter caused confusion amongst the Republican Caucus, but was later shown to be a forgery. Abramoff's firm had hired Shandwick Worldwide, based in Tampa, Florida to lobby Jeb Bush and other leaders for letters showing opposition to IGPA. Months later, a Florida man, Matthew Blair, told authorities in a plea bargain agreement that he was hired by Shandwick to obtain the letter, but created a forgery when he failed to get a real one. Shandwick denied any complicity in the forgery. DeLay voted against IGPA, and used his powers as Majority Whip to place the bill on the suspension calendar, a House procedural maneuver which bans amendments and limits debate. The bill's sponsor, Robert Goodlatte (R-VA) agreed, as he expected the bill to pass. The bill failed to meet the two-thirds majority required by the suspension calendar, and was rejected on July 18. The bill's original supporters, such as James Dobson's Focus on the Family, immediately demanded that the House leadership revive the bill. Abramoff realized that he would not be able to muster support to reject the bill in an ordinary majority vote. Abramoff used Sheldon to target 10 Republican House members in vulnerable districts, using Sheldon to carry out a media campaign and Reed to carry out a direct-mail campaign accusing the members of being 'soft on gambling' if they supported the bill. In a fax to eLottery on August 18, Abramoff wrote, "please get me a check as soon as possible for $150,000 made payable to American Marketing Inc. This is the company Ralph [Reed] is using." Abramoff also directed eLottery to write a check for $25,000 to Toward Tradition, a Seattle, Washington-based foundation formerly chaired by Abramoff, and then chaired by