Poker News

Congressman Barney Frank

Representative Barney Frank needs your help, and he needs it now. To coincide with recent hearings on HR 2046, which seeks to legalize, license, and regulate internet gambling operations, Frank has been on the interview circuit appealing to Americans to contact their local representatives and ask that they support his measure. We urge you to do the same.

Frank’s bill, officially known as the Internet Gambling Regulatory and Enforcement Act (IGREA) of 2007, calls for online gambling to be licensed and regulated in the United States. Online poker and online gambling companies licensed under Frank’s bill would be exempt from the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) that was passed last October.

Frank is adamant about how UIGEA tramples on our civil liberties. “Call your Representative and your Senators and tell them to get out of your life,” said the Massachusetts Democrat.

“As the average American understands what’s happened,” added Frank, “my colleagues are going to be told, ‘listen you made a mistake and you butt out of my business’ and at that point I think we may be able to change it.”

That spark of awareness actually happened during congressional hearings on Frank’s bill. Indiana representative Julia Carson announced her switch away from UIGEA, when no one could answer her question about why Indiana gamblers could bet on the Kentucky Derby online but not engage in other forms of online wagering.

Reports from the hearing were that the witnesses and the committee members sat in stunned silence waiting for an answer, “…but all that came was a feeble mumble from someone on the panel that it should be legal.”

Minutes later, Carson repeated her question and once again received no answer. She then declared her support for Frank’s bill and said she had been mistaken last year in voting for UIGEA.

Frank’s bill recently added three more sponsors to the growing roster: Representatives Howard L. Berman, Bob Filner and James McGovern, bringing the total to 23 members of congress who now support HR 2046.

The Poker Players Alliance website, www. pokerplayersalliance.org, offers a contact list and letter template for writing your congressperson, by making it quick and easy to add personal comments to it.

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